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The data below comes from testmagic forums and shows accepted, waitlisted, and rejected applicants for 2010 for economics graduate school. Clicking on points in the graph above will make the most recent profile appear in the space below the graph.


Acceptances:

slightlyconfused1 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 overall, top 20 econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.99/4.00
GRE: 800Q, 740V, 5.5 AW
Math Courses: Topology (A), Algebra I (A), Analysis II (A+), Math Modeling (A+)
Math Courses (Grad): Ordinary Differential Equations (A+), Real Analysis (A), Functional Analysis (A), Complex Analysis (A+), Algebraic Topology (A)
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro (A+), Intermediate Macro (A+), Econometrics (A+), Random Field Course (A+), Research Seminars (A+ and A)
Econ Courses (Grad): Micro I (A), Micro II (A+), Macro I (A+), Macro II (A-), Econometrics I (A), Econometrics II (A)
Other Courses: 4 additional PhD courses in compsci and physics. (A+s and As)
Letters of Recommendation: One from very well-known prof (research), one from decently well-known prof (research + did an independent study with him), one with younger associate prof (took a 2nd year grad module with him + unofficial adviser)
Research Experience: Financial econometrics research for senior thesis; micro theory + cs research earlier. Nothing too extraordinary, although my advisors want me to submit the financial econometrics work to a top field journal.
Teaching Experience: Various TA gigs over the years.
Research Interests: Everything. Applied micro and econometrics if I had to narrow down a little.
Statement of Purpose: Pretty bland (except for the Berkeley SOP, which was the first one I wrote and included lots of details about papers I liked, etc.). Narrated my interest in econ, advanced coursework, research, etc.
Other: Various awards in math/programming contests. Some "best academics in university" awards given to 2-3 students.
Concerns: Undergrad research was not focused and had little to do with my actual interests?
RESULTS:
Acceptances: MIT ($$), Harvard ($$), Yale ($$$), Princeton ($$), Stanford ($$), Berkeley ($$), Chicago ($$), Northwestern ($$), Duke ($$)
Rejections: None
Accepts:
    Acceptances: MIT ($$), Harvard ($$), Yale ($$$), Princeton ($$), Stanford ($$), Berkeley ($$), Chicago ($$), Northwestern ($$), Duke ($$)
  • Institution: Yale Economics, PHD Decision: Admitted Funding: No info yet -- apparently coming in mail. Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: no Date of Gradcafe post: no Comments: First acceptance. "Relieved" is an understatement...
  • Institution: Northwestern Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 20.9k fellowship x 4 years, 15.7k for year 5 Notification date: 02/19 Notified through: email from grad coordinator containing admissions letter as pdf attachment Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Comments: I got the email after wobuffet had already posted about his -- it looks like they aren't all sent at the same time, so don't worry if you haven't received one yet. :)
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 36.5k for 4 years + at least 26k in 5th Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: email to check website Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Generous funding...
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 21.9k for 4 years + 15.7k in 5th Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: email from grad coordinator Posted on grad cafe: No Comments:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18k + 2k for summer in first year. Vague for future years, but program website has info. Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: email to check website Posted on grad cafe: No Comments:
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Coming via mail.. Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: Call from co-chair of admissions committee Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: So exciting! I saw a call from the 617 area code and flipped out.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $23,000 for 4 years. "In the fifth year of the program ample funding is available through teaching or research positions." Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Cool.
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Coming via mail.. Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: Call from co-chair of admissions committee Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: So exciting! I saw a call from the 617 area code and flipped out.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: $23,000 for 4 years. "In the fifth year of the program ample funding is available through teaching or research positions." Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Cool.
  • Institution: University of Chicago economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 21k for 5 years Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: Email Comment: flyout april 2nd
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 29.8k for 5 years Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email from admissions director (via grad administrator) Posted on GF: No Comment: Exciting offer!
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 32k for 2 years; "full financial support" as an RA or TA in years 3-5 Notification date: 3/10 Notified through: Email (letter attached as pdf) Posted on GC: No Comment: Happy... but still waiting on one very important piece of news.
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 28k fellowship for 2 years, unspecified amount as RA/TA in years 3-5 Notification date: 3/15 Notified through: Email from grad administrator with attachment Comments: Very, very happy.
Rejects:
    Rejections: None
Waitlists:

Arinamay 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Small liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.96
Type of Grad: MA in Economics
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 780Q, 610V, 5.0
Math Courses: Calculus I (A+), self taught other applicable math concepts
Econ Courses: Many, all A's.
Grad Econ Courses (MA level): Micro I (A+), Macro I (A), Micro II (A), Macro II (A), Advanced Statistics (A), Econometrics (A)
Other Courses: A wide variety of courses, including a semester abroad
Letters of Recommendation: One from a very well known professor, one from my MA thesis adviser, one from another strong professor. I asked my letter writers to emphasize that, while I don't have a lot of formal math I did quite well in the math-heavy MA program.
Research Experience: Undergrad thesis(presented at a regional conference), collaborative research project with undergrad adviser, MA thesis
Teaching Experience: TAed for an intro course
Research Interests: Economics of the family, feminist economics, labor economics
SOP: Very specific to my research interests
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Duke ($$, public policy concentration in economics), UMass Amherst ($, economics)
Waitlists:
Rejections: Harvard (public policy), Chicago (public policy)
Pending: Cornell (economics)
What would you have done differently? I had a family crisis that prevented me from taking any math courses during the second year of my MA program. However, Duke was my top choice so really there was nothing lost by not taking more math courses.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Duke ($$, public policy concentration in economics), UMass Amherst ($, economics)
  • Institution: UMass Amherst Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: Nominated for graduate school fellowship, otherwise a TAship Notification date: 2/15 Notified Through: Phone call Posted on Grad Cafe: Yes
  • Institution: Duke (Sanford School) Public Policy (concentration in economics) Decision: Accepted Funding: Info to follow in mail, my impression is that they fund all their students Notification date: Feb. 19 Notified Through: Email to find letter on website Posted on Grad Cafe: Yes Comment: Extremely happy
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard (public policy), Chicago (public policy)
Waitlists:
    Waitlists:

tommyg28 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top UK BA econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.85(ish) equivalent
Type of Grad: MA econ, same uni
Grad GPA: 3.9
GRE: 800Q, 720V, 5.5AW
Math Courses: The usual (real analysis I, II, Topology, functional analysis, linear algebra, ODE I, II, advanced statistics and probability theory, etc.) Mostly As, one A-
Econ Courses: Many: Micro I-IV; Macro I-IV; Econometrics I, II; Economic theory; IO, etc. All As, some A+
Other Courses: None, econ all the way
Letters of Recommendation: From people who knew me well, but alas, few people know them. Nice letters though.
Research Experience: Undergrad thesis and Grad dissertation - they were OK.
Teaching Experience: Coached various sports, but pretty sure this counts for squat
Research Interests: Everything. Probably IO, stock-flow macro dynamics and labour if I had to narrow it down.
SOP: Bland
Concerns: Interpretation of UK grades
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Duke ($$), U Washington-Seattle ($), Georgetown ($$)
Waitlists: UCLA
Rejections: A lot: MIT, Princeton, Stanford, NYU, Columbia, Michigan, Yale, Penn, etc.
What would you have done differently? it's been said many times before, but I didn't pay sufficient heed: LORs matter! Unless you have Slightlyconfused's profile you need to get well-known profs to write decent enough LORs. I'm a little disappointed with my outcome. My faculty is pretty weak at the mo, so I don't think I could've done much better. But I should've done my MA elsewhere to get access to better letter of recommendation writers. Shucks.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Duke ($$), U Washington-Seattle ($), Georgetown ($$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: A lot: MIT, Princeton, Stanford, NYU, Columbia, Michigan, Yale, Penn, etc.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comment: "Don't care anymore." Enough said.
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Trying to tell myself that I had forgotten about this one. Alas....
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UCLA

triple_sec 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: MA in Econ in a small country in Eastern Europe; univ is among the best in the country but has little, if any, international renown
Undergrad GPA: 4.92/5.00, 1st out of 182
Type of Grad: MPhil Econ at another, English-speaking, univ in the same country
Grad GPA: 3.94/4.00
GRE: 800Q, 660V, 4.0AWA (Nov 2007); 800Q, 630V, 4.0AWA (Nov 2009)
TOEFL: 112/120 (30R, 27S, 27L, 28W)
Math Courses: Calculus (actually, it was more like real analysis; 5/5), Linear Algebra, Linear Programming, Multivariate Analysis (4/5, the last three went under the same course), Probability Theory (5/5), Operations Research (5/5), Advanced Math (A, actually Measure Theory)
Econ Courses: Micro (A,A,A), Macro (A,A), Metrics (A,A,A-,5/5), Monetary Theory (5/5), Recursive Macro (5/5), Time Series Analysis (A,5/5), Intl Macro (5/5), Game Theory (5/5), Public Econ (A), Behavioral (A), Metrics Intro (5/5), Public Econ (5/5), Labor (5/5,4/5), IO (5/5), Micro (5/5,5/5), Macro (5/5,5/5), Corporate Finance (5/5)
Other Courses: Statistics minor, plus some Political Science, Accounting, Law (the first two years of my undergrad were rather a joint social sciences—business—econ program before specialization to econ)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors (1 MIT PhD, 1 Harvard PhD), 1 math prof; I guess they were solid
Research Experience: MA thesis (mainly a survey but contains also a standalone RBC model) plus a preliminary project for a series of research seminars
Teaching Experience: a lot, TA for 7 courses altogether (4 math, 1 grad macro, 1 undergrad micro, 1 undergrad macro) and much, much tutoring
Research Interests: econ of information, mechanism design, macro
SOP: Enthusiastic as it should be, emphasizes eagerness for research
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Yale, Berkeley, NYU, Northwestern, Duke (declined)
Waitlists: Princeton, UPenn (asked them to take me off)
Rejections: MIT, MIT Operations Research, Harvard, Chicago, Columbia, Stanford
What would you have done differently? I don't know. What could I have done differently to get into my absolute, unsurpassable dream school, MIT? Probably nothing. I have to come to terms with the fact that either I'm not *that* good or this year has been unusually competitive (or both). Anyways, I'm extremely delighted with my actual offers—I would be a moron if I weren't, of course.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Yale, Berkeley, NYU, Northwestern, Duke (declined)
  • Institution: Yale Econ Decision: Acceptance Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: Yes
  • Institution: Northwestern Econ Decision: Acceptance Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Acceptance Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes
  • Institution: University of California, Berkeley Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Not specified yet Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Interview over the phone Posted on GF: Yes Comments: I'm really in a dilemma, in a good sense. Also in at Yale.
  • Institution: University of California, Berkeley Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Not specified yet Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Interview over the phone Posted on GF: Yes Comments: I'm really in a dilemma, in a good sense. Also in at Yale.
  • Institution: New York University Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes
Rejects:
    Rejections: MIT, MIT Operations Research, Harvard, Chicago, Columbia, Stanford
  • Institution: MIT Operations Research Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/20 Notified through: First called for interview, the program director told me they were impressed but I don't fit in; then also in email Posted on GF: Yes
  • Institution: Harvard Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: ? Notified through: No admission letter Posted on GF: No
  • Institution: Columbia Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: ? Notified through: No admission letter Posted on GF: No Waiting: MIT Econ, Princeton, NYU, Penn, Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comment: It has been obvious to me since all admitted applicants (including one of my schoolmates) received info last week.
  • Institution: The University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail (breaking the alleged tradition) Posted on GF: Yes Comment: It's OK.
  • Institution: Columbia Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: ? Notified through: No admission letter Posted on GF: No Waiting: MIT Econ, Princeton, NYU, Penn, Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comment: It has been obvious to me since all admitted applicants (including one of my schoolmates) received info last week.
  • Institution: The University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail (breaking the alleged tradition) Posted on GF: Yes Comment: It's OK.
  • Institution: Stanford University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Expected
  • Institution: Harvard University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: Postal mail
  • Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: OK, I know but this one hurt. Congrats to all admits, anyways. My admiration (and envy ) will haunt you.
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics Decision: Rejected from the wait list Notification date: 4/14/10 Notified through: E-mail
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Princeton, UPenn (asked them to take me off)
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes
  • Institution: Princeton University Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: $25,750 p.a. if accepted (weird that waitlistees are offered less than those guys admitted in the first place) Notification date: 3/9/2010 Notified through: Email Comments: Congrats to those admitted! :-)

shy_student 2010:
Type of Undergrad: One of the top universities in economics in my country
Undergrad GPA: 3.3
GRE: 770Q/450V/4.5A
Math Courses: Calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, game theory, differential equations, dynamic optimization, linear programming, stochastic calculus
Econ Courses: Too many actually. Vast majority of them being applied, but standard intermediate micro-macro and econometrics present. I've also taken time series and discrete choice models, though they were very introductory. A lot of introductory field courses: IO, Public, Labor, Financial Markets etc.
Grad degree: Best MA in economics program in my country, intended as a step to PhD
Graduate courses: Math for Economists, Advanced Macro, Advanced Micro, Intermediate and Advanced Econometrics, Contract theory, IO. Letters of Recommendation: 3 professors of my school, including my adviser.
Research Experience: I worked in a think tank for a year, but was doing policy project. Also joined a University Economics Lab for several projects as an undergrad
Teaching Experience: Worked as an instructor in basic micro at evening school for bright high school students. Also was TA at my MA program.
Research Interests: Applied microeconomics and econometrics, labor, contracts
SOP: Quite standard I suppose. I describe development of my ideas, touch some skills gained and explain, why I'd like to do empirics.
Concerns: low GPA, not perfect quantitative GRE. Worried that my SOP was not impressive enough.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Duke (attending), Boston University (no $), Boston College, Rutgers (no $)
Waitlists: UCLA
Rejections: Maryland, Northwestern, NYU, Cornell, Michigan, CMU
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Duke (attending), Boston University (no $), Boston College, Rutgers (no $)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Maryland, Northwestern, NYU, Cornell, Michigan, CMU
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: UCLA

mango_tea 2010:
Type of Undergrad: Top US Public
Undergrad GPA: 3.8/4
GRE: 780Q 520V 5AWA
math: basic prep and one proof-based course (not on my transcript at time of application)
Research Experience: through the history department
Research Interests: micro, cultural econ, development
Statement of Purpose: explained my C+ in multi var calculus
Other: studied in Italy for 6 mo
Accepts:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18k + 2k for summer, but dean's letter had slightly different info, guess I'll see Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: checked website Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: The fly-out is during my spring break. Perfect.
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18k + 2k for summer, but dean's letter had slightly different info, guess I'll see Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: checked website Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: The fly-out is during my spring break. Perfect.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: checked website Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Knew this was a toss up
  • Institution nstitution: NYU, Cornell Economics Decision: Rejected Notified through: e-mail Notification date: 3/16/10 Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:

nobigdeal 2010:
Type of Undergrad: B.F.A (!) dbl major in acting and economics (from one of the top acting programs, and a top (15) econ department.
Undergrad GPA: 3.85/4 over all, 3.9 econ; received the senior year econ dept. award.
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800Q, 650V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-II (AP). Only linear algebra (A) in undergrad. Since then, calc III (A), real analysis (A+), math stats (A+), probability (A)
Econ Courses (undergraduate): two intro classes plus micro, macro, international trade, labor, public, development, statistics, econometrics, thesis. All A's, except an A- in my first intro course.
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors (worked for one over a summer, co authored a paper with the other -- top marks in their classes), one economist at a fed (he does more academic research than policy work).
Research Experience: A senior thesis, which grew into a paper that was recently accepted into a top (sub)field journal. Over 2 years at a fed working pretty closely with an economist with who I coauthored a paper we submitted to an interdisciplinary policy journal.
Teaching Experience: Very little. Worked in a statistics lab in college where I gave a lesson on STATA.
Research Interests: Labor, behavioral
Statement of Purpose: Discussed my background and research experiences. Also wrote two paragraphs outlining my research interests in applied microeconomics, labor, and behavioral. So, fairly specific. Hardly addressed the school's strengths at all--only mentioned the school's name once, in the last paragraph.
Concerns: I have a B.F.A, and I didn't take much math in college.
Applying to: Harvard, MIT, Princeton, UC Berkeley, Columbia, Yale, Penn, Duke, Cornel, NYU, Brown, Northwestern, Stanford, U Chicago, U Michigan
Accepts:
  • Institution: Duke Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 2/22/10 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2/23/10 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes
  • Institution: Columbia Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Full funding" w/ details to come later Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes Still waiting: Berkeley, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, NYU, Michigan, UPenn, U Chicago
  • Institution: Columbia Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Full funding" w/ details to come later Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes Still waiting: Berkeley, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, NYU, Michigan, UPenn, U Chicago
  • Institution: Michigan Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: Funding on 03/07/10 Notified through: Postal Posted on GF: no Comment: Impossible to fund my first year. Oh well.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 2/18 Notified Through: Email -- Checked Online Status Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: (fill in)
  • Institution: Yale Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/18/10 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF:yes
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: Funding on 03/05/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: yes
Waitlists:
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: Mar 17 Notified through: email Funding: unlikely I'm sure Comments: Maybe they think I have a shot at the NSF?

sjmm 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA math and econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4
Type of Grad: ND, gpa 3.9/4
GRE: 780Q, 610V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: calc 1+2, linear, vector, diffeq, pde, topology, real analysis 1+2, algebra 1+2, game theory
Econ Courses: micro, macro, international, development, econometrics, math econ
Other Courses: politics
Letters of Recommendation: 1 econ, 1 politics, 1 math
Research Experience: REU
Teaching Experience: TA throughout undergrad
Statement of Purpose: Standard
Concerns: total lack of research
Applying to: CSU, NCSU, Duke, Cornell, Columbia, JHU, Brown, Georgetown, Drexel, AU, UMD
Accepts:
  • Institution: NCSU, Duke, Drexel Economics PhD Decision: Accepted, Rejected, Accepted Funding: Waiting, n/a, $ Notification date: Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 16 Notified through: email to check website, email to check website, email from director Posted on grad cafe: no Comments: Need funding to attend, Sad, Expected
  • Institution: NCSU, Duke, Drexel Economics PhD Decision: Accepted, Rejected, Accepted Funding: Waiting, n/a, $ Notification date: Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 16 Notified through: email to check website, email to check website, email from director Posted on grad cafe: no Comments: Need funding to attend, Sad, Expected
  • Institution: American University Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notified through: Phone Date: 3/5
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/16 Notified Through: E-mail Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: Sad
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: denied.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Website Comments: glad we made it official
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: denied.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Website Comments: glad we made it official
  • Institution: JHU Econ PHd Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/12/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email (check website)
Waitlists:

Lachis 2010:
Institution: Yale
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 2/18
Notified through: E-mail to check site
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Not surprised. At least I gave it a shot!
Institution: Duke
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Fellowship: 18k + health insurance
Notification date: 2/22
Notified through: E-mail to check site
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Yay!!! My first admission! Very excited!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship: 18k + health insurance Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Yay!!! My first admission! Very excited! :D
  • Institution: University of Virginia Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Nothing yet (decision is made in April) Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email to check website. Posted on GF: No. Date posted on Gradcafe: 03/02/2010 Comment: My acceptance is subject to completing my Masters program in Applied Mathematics this July. Happy :)
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Fellowship: 18k + health insurance Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Yay!!! My first admission! Very excited!
  • Institution: University of Virginia Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Nothing yet (decision is made in April) Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email to check website. Posted on GF: No. Date posted on Gradcafe: 03/02/2010 Comment: My acceptance is subject to completing my Masters program in Applied Mathematics this July. Happy
  • Institution: University of Warwick MSc in Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None (This offer of a place does not constitute an offer of a scholarship or funding. For details on the options available for funding your studies please visit our Graduate School portal at University of Warwick :: Academic Office :: Services :: Graduate School Portal) Notification date: 3/11/10 Notified through: Email Comment: Offer conditional on completing my current Masters program. UVa placed the same condition... seems they like my Masters program
  • Institution: Texas at Austin Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship - 14k + Tuition scholarship + health insurance Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: LSE MSc in Economics and Philosophy Decision: Accepted Funding: none Notification date: 3/24/10 Notified through: Randomly checked website... received email a few minutes later Comments: Really, really love this program!!!, but think maybe it is better to start right away with the PhD in Economics ...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Not surprised. At least I gave it a shot!
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: I was just waiting the formal rejection from this one...
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: I did had hope with this one! :(
  • Institution: Cornell University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: I did had hope with this one!
  • Institution: U Maryland Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/21/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: "Surprise, surprise"
  • Institution: Syracuse University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 4/19 Notified through: Email Comments: Thought it was a safety ...
Waitlists:

publicecon 2010:
Institution: Duke
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition + 18k
Notification date: 2/18
Notified through: email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Excited!
Institution: Johns Hopkins
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: tuition waver + stipend if I "decide to attend"
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: don't know much about JHU
Institution: Minnesota
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlist
Funding:
Notification date: 2/25
Notified through: email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: They said I am on a "short" waitlist. Seemed legit because they provided information on potential funding
Institution: Chicago Booth
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlist
Funding:
Notification date: 2/24
Notified through: email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: email didn't seem too enthusiastic compared to minnesota
Accepts:
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: before end of march Notification date: 02/04/10 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) Comments: good luck to everyone, doesn't seem like a lot of people on TM applied to Davis.
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics PHD Decision: Accepted Funding: no info Notification date: 02/17 Notified through: Website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Comments: Randomly checked out the website. I hope I get an email about funding!!
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + 18k Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Excited!
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: tuition waver + stipend if I "decide to attend" Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: don't know much about JHU
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waiver + $12.5K TAship 1st year, something guaranteed for 3 more years Notification date: 2/27 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Just got the same email as thesparky. Sat night emails. crazy!
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Don't know Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: Checked website Posted on GF: No Comments: REALLY EXCITED!!! considering I am into public econ
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waiver + $12.5K TAship 1st year, something guaranteed for 3 more years Notification date: 2/27 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Just got the same email as thesparky. Sat night emails. crazy!
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Don't know Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: Checked website Posted on GF: No Comments: REALLY EXCITED!!! considering I am into public econ
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Admitted Notified through: e-mail Date: March 8
Rejects:
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: They said I am on a "short" waitlist. Seemed legit because they provided information on potential funding
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: email didn't seem too enthusiastic compared to minnesota
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Notification date: 1st March Notified through: Email (Mass email) Posted on GF: No Comments: "We have made fewer than usual funded offers of admission this year, so it could be that we will have a few more offers to make" Invitation to open house.. hmmm....
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: email didn't seem too enthusiastic compared to minnesota
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Notification date: 1st March Notified through: Email (Mass email) Posted on GF: No Comments: "We have made fewer than usual funded offers of admission this year, so it could be that we will have a few more offers to make" Invitation to open house.. hmmm....
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Wait Listed for Funding Notified through: e-mail Date: March 8 Notes: They want me to enroll in the masters program

Churchill 2010:
Institution: Cornell
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Funding: -
Notification date: 02/10
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments:
Institution: Duke
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: 18k
Notification date: 02/22
Notified through: Email / Website
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments:
Institution: Northwestern
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Waitlist
Notification date: 02/24
Notified through: Website
Posted on grad cafe: Yes
Comments:
Institution: Minnesota
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Waitlist
Funding:
Notification date: 02/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: Yes
Comments:
Accepts:
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Accepted! Funding: Financial award in letter Notification date: 19 February 2010 Notified through: Website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Comments: :D:D:D
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18k Notification date: 02/22 Notified through: Email / Website Posted on grad cafe: No Comments:
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlist Notification date: 02/24 Notified through: Website Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Some probability" Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Hope I get financial aid
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Some probability" Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Hope I get financial aid
  • Institution: Brown Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + 19.5k Notified through: E-mail Date: 03/08 Comment: Awesome!
  • Institution: BU Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: None Notification date: 3/23/10 Notified through: e-mail Comments:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/10/2010 Notified through: email Posted on Gradcafe: No Comment:
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/10 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: Expected
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: Expected
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comment:
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: na Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: E-mail to check the website Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: Notification date: 02/26 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Waitlist Funding: Notification date: 02/26 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:

btopper 2010:
Institution: Berkeley
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Admitted
Funding: not first year, guaranteed after that
Notification date: 03/04/2010
Notified through: Email with attachment
Comment:
Institution: UCLA
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: TBA
Notification date: 2/26/2010
Notified through: email
Comment:
Institution: Duke
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Yes
Notification date: 02/19/2010
Notified through: Website. Later email and mail.
Comment:
Accepts:
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: not first year, guaranteed after that Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email with attachment Comment:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBA Notification date: 2/26/2010 Notified through: email Comment:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 02/19/2010 Notified through: Website. Later email and mail. Comment:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Yes Notification date: 02/19/2010 Notified through: Website. Later email and mail. Comment:
Rejects:
Waitlists:

econgirl19 2010:
Institution: Rutgers
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: None
Notification date: 1/27/2010
Notified through: Email
Comments: Not going without funding.
Institution: Yale
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding:N/A
Notification date: 2/18/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comments: Oh well.
Institution: Penn State
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition + $24k stipend
Notification date: 2/22/2010
Notified through: Email
Comments: :-)
Institution: Duke
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition + $18k stipend + $2k stipend for the summer
Notification date: 2/22/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comments: Definitely high up on my list.
Institution: Johns Hopkins
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition + $17k stipend
Notification date: 2/26/2010
Notified through: Email with attachment
Comments: Another good option.
Institution: University of Maryland
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Accepted
Funding: Tuition + $18k stipend
Notification date: 3/3/2010
Notified through: Email
Comments: Excited!
Institution: Columbia
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Rejected
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 3/4/2010
Notified through: Email to check website
Comments: I wasn't really planning on going there anyway….
Accepts:
  • Institution: Rutgers Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 1/27/2010 Notified through: Email Comments: Not going without funding.
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $24k stipend Notification date: 2/22/2010 Notified through: Email Comments: :-)
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $18k stipend + $2k stipend for the summer Notification date: 2/22/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Definitely high up on my list.
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $17k stipend Notification date: 2/26/2010 Notified through: Email with attachment Comments: Another good option.
  • Institution: University of Maryland Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $18k stipend Notification date: 3/3/2010 Notified through: Email Comments: Excited!
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Sage Fellowship (Tuition + $21.8k stipend + $4.6k stipend for the summer) for all 5 years Notification date: 3/8/2010 Notified through: Email with attachment Comments: Definitely in the running
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding:N/A Notification date: 2/18/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Oh well.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: I wasn't really planning on going there anyway….
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/4/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: I wasn't really planning on going there anyway….
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9/2010 Notified through: Email Comments: "We chose to advise you of our decision via email on the assumption that a timely response would outweigh the informality of this means of communication. I would be happy to provide a formal letter upon request." Now can someone please tell me why I would want a formal rejection letter? Oh well, this was expected anyway.
  • Institution: Harvard Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Postal Comments: I 100 0.000000e+000xpected this.
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/16/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comments: I expected this one also. I wasn't planning on going there anyway =P
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/16/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Can't say I didn't expect this one either….
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/17/2010 Notified through: E-mail in my response to my e-mail Comments: Not surprised.
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: E-mail telling me to check the website Comments: I wanted to get into this one, but oh well. Probably for the best.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Waitlisted (high on waitlist) Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/18/2010 Notified through: E-mail with attachment Comments: Very excited! I hope I get in (with funding).


Rejections:

baj393 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin
Undergrad GPA: 4.00
Type of Grad: 500f a MA in Economics from Duke University (not going to finish)
Grad GPA: 4.00
GRE: 740Q, 560V, 6.0AW
Math Courses: Cal I-III, Linear Algebra, Applied Differential Equations, Economic Statistics, Intro. to Statistics, Applied Data Analysis, Real Analysis
Econ Courses: Intro. Macro, Intro. Micro, Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Macro, Industrial Organization, Political Economy, Health Economics, Labor Economics. GRADUATE LEVEL: Advanced Microeconomics, Environmental Economics
Other Courses: Bunch of philosophy courses
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Princeton, 1 Yale, 1 Cornell, and 1 MIT
Research Experience: RA for a semester with a top environmental economist at Duke
Teaching Experience: Supplemental instructor for an intro. microeconomics course
Research Interests: Environmental economics
SOP: 2.5 pages. Reflected my goals, ambitions, and specific research interests. I know that this was the most important part of my application, which enabled me to overcome my low GRE score. This was told to me by several adcoms. Thus, the SOP is the difference for those of you with terrible GRE scores. MAKE IT COUNT!
Other: Was not expecting too much given my low GRE.
RESULTS:
Acceptances:
Arizona State University ($21.5k stipend, full tuition, and health insurance)
NC State University ($18k stipend, $5k fellowship, full tuition, health insurance)
Penn State University ARE (don't know the specifics, but ~20k stipend, full tuition)
Virginia Tech Applied Economics ($19.7k stipend, full tuition, and 80% health insurance)
Rejections: Duke Environmental Policy PhD (no adviser for my research interests)
Pending: Michigan State ARE. Would not go even if accepted at this point.
What would you have done differently? Very little. GRE score was low, but I got into my reach school, ASU. I really wanted to work with Kerry Smith, so am very happy to have such an opportunity. I suppose that I could have applied to a few more reach schools higher up in the rankings (like UCSD), but I doubt that I would get in.
Again, SOP is the most important part of your application. I spent a month on mine going over every little detail. It really made the difference for me and I could not have gotten into ASU without it. Spend lots of time on your SOP and make it great!!!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Arizona State University ($21.5k sti
  • Institution: Virginia Tech Applied Economics (though the actual PhD is in Economics) Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition + $19,860 stipend with RA position Notification date: January 15th Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) Yes Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) January 15th Comments:
  • Institution: NCSU Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Will know by March 15th Notification date: 2/9/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) Yes Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) 2/9/10 Comments: I'm excited!
  • Institution: Arizona State University Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: unknown Notification date: 2/17/10 Notified through: Email to check website at 9:39 EST Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) Comments: Was not expecting this at all! Was my reach school.
  • Institution: Arizona State University (ASU) Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Letter on 2/26 ($19k, tuition, and health insurance) Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Postal Service Unless it is terrible when I visit, I'm probably going. :p
  • Institution: Penn State Agricultural, Environmental, and Regional Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 21k plus tuition Notification date: 3/4/10 Notified through: Email from director Posted on GF: No Comment: Interesting
  • Institution: Arizona State University (ASU) Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Letter on 2/26 ($19k, tuition, and health insurance) Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Postal Service Unless it is terrible when I visit, I'm probably going.
  • Institution: Penn State Agricultural, Environmental, and Regional Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 21k plus tuition Notification date: 3/4/10 Notified through: Email from director Posted on GF: No Comment: Interesting
  • Institution: NC State Economics Decision: Accepted (just got funding today) Funding: $18k stipend, $5k fellowship, tuition, health insurance Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: email from Tamah Morant Comments: Will probably turn down!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Duke Environmental Policy PhD (no adviser for my research interests)
Waitlists:
    Pending: Michigan State ARE. Would not go even if

saucyapples 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 liberal arts college, majored in Math and Econ (class of 2008)
Undergrad GPA: 3.69
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q, 630V, 5.5AW
Math Courses: The usual , plus some high level statistics classes. Mostly As, some B's.
Econ Courses: 12 or so, mostly A's and some A-'s.
Other Courses: Some random classes, several about law since when I got to college I wanted to be a lawyer. A's and B's.
Letters of Recommendation: Only from people who know me well and (I think) like me. Two from econ professors with PhD's from top-5 places and one from a reasonably famous math prof.
Research Experience: Undergrad thesis (won an award), RAed for two summers including once abroad, and did field research in Latin America for almost two years after graduation
Teaching Experience: TAed and tutored a couple of math and econ courses. I've also tutored at an underachieving elementary school near my house (which is remarkably similar to tutoring underachieving college students, actually)
Research Interests: Development, IO, Game Theory, Education
SOP: Had it vetted by various economists, they said that it was fine. I wrote about three pages and then for each school only kept the 1-1.5 pages that were most relevant to that program. I'm not really sure how much it matters
Concerns: Had no idea what my LORs actually said.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: HBS($$$, pretty sure that I'm going to take it), Harvard ($$), Cal($$), Michigan ($), BU($), Maryland()
Waitlists: None
Rejections: Duke, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford GSB, Columbia, NYU, Stanford, MIT
What would you have done differently? I got into my dream school, so I'm ecstatic.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: HBS($$$, pretty sure that I'm
Rejects:
    Rejections: Duke, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford GSB, Columbia, NYU, Stanford, MIT
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None

dreck 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA in Economics (summa cum laude), BA in Math (summa cum laude), large state school, not well known for economics
Undergrad GPA: 4.00/4.00
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 790Q, 630V, 5.5 AW
Math Courses: Multivariate Calc, Linear Algebra, Diff. Eq., Abstract Linear Algebra, Numeric Analysis, Set Theory & Proofs, (Analysis and Topology not reflected in the application)
Econ Courses: Intermediate Macro/Micro, Game Theory, Labor Economics, Discrimination Seminar, Colloquium on Poverty, Two Undergraduate Econometrics courses, PhD-level Econometrics, PhD-level Micro
I made an A in each of these. My school does not use +/-.
Other Courses: A lot of psychology,
Letters of Recommendation: Three professors at my school. Did research and classes with one, taught with the other, just class with the third. None are famous, but two are reasonably well-known in their field. One is the department chair.
Research Experience: Two Honors Theses, one term paper in econometrics. Wasn't able to secure a publication before application season.
Teaching Experience: TA for two years, Intro to Micro and Intermediate Micro
Research Interests: Applied Micro, Micro Theory, Development
SOP: Pretty standard, just outlined my progress through an undergraduate degree and my research interests
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Michigan (no $(?)), Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($$), Texas at Austin ($$ if I wanted it)
Waitlists: Princeton ($$ if admitted)
Rejections: Harvard, MIT, NYU, Columbia, Duke, Northwestern, Berkeley
Pending: LSE (applied later)
What would you have done differently?
Started math classes sooner. Considered more seriously a Masters program abroad. I also wish that I had discovered these forums earlier! So much good advice...
If I could go even further back, I would have attended a undergraduate institution with a stronger economics program. That said, I'm still happy. I'm leaning toward Michigan, but keeping my fingers crossed for Princeton.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Michigan (no $(?)), Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($$), Texas at Austin ($$ if I wanted it)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, MIT, NYU, Columbia, Duke, Northwestern, Berkeley
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Princeton ($$ if

econslave 2010:
Type of Undergrad: BA in Economics from top 15 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.7ish
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q / 630V / 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I/II, Intro to Statistics, Probability Theory, Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, Discrete Math, Ordinary Differential Equations, Real Analysis (Note: Some grades were good, but most were not.)
Econ Courses (Undergraduate): A lot of basic field courses, but also econometrics and advanced theoretical econometrics
Econ Courses (Graduate): N/A
Letters of Recommendation: (1) RA-ed for 2.5 years; (2) RA-ed for, co-authored decent article with, advised for thesis, and took two courses with; (3) Took an advanced economics course with as an undergraduate and did very well in the class (Note: None of the letter-writers are well-known, but all went to top 10 PhD programs.)
Research Experience: 2.5 years RA for one professor, 1 year RA for another professor, undergraduate thesis (ranked best), summer RA at prestigious policy think-tanks, 1 year full-time RA position with top 10 school professor
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Behavioral/experimental, decision theory, micro theory, applied micro
Concerns: Lacking in math (not many classes and less-than-stellar grades). Didn’t graduate with any honors or anything.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UCSD (TA $), Michigan (no $), Boston University (no $)
Waitlist: Minnesota
Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern, Penn, Columbia, NYU, UCLA, Wisconsin, Caltech, Brown, Cornell, Duke, CMU, Maryland, Texas, PSU, Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth
What would you have done differently? Besides getting better grades as an undergraduate, not much. I applied to all of the top 20 and several others, and got into a few great schools. Perhaps I would’ve taken a different RA position, but it seems to have worked out anyway.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UCSD (TA $), Michigan (no $), Boston University (no $)
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Don't know Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: Checked website Posted on GF: No Comments I'm so thrilled about this. My first admit!!!
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Don't know Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: Checked website Posted on GF: No Comments I'm so thrilled about this. My first admit!!!
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Accepted!! Funding: To arrive via e-mail next week Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Flyout March 31-April 1 ... Financial info to arrive next week. It was a personalized message. So happy!
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Nice, but I'll probably turn down the offer soon.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, MIT, Chicago, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, Northwestern, Penn, Columbia, NYU, UCLA, Wisconsin, Caltech, Brown, Cornell, Duke, CMU, Maryland, Texas, PSU, Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/16 Notified Through: E-mail Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: First "official" rejection. Trying to keep the faith.
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: None Notified Through: Checked online status Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: No good news yet...
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Economic Analysis and Policy Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/19 Notified Through: E-mail to check website Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: Not surprised, still worried
  • Institution: Duke Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: 1
  • Institution: Yale Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: 2
  • Institution: Stanford GSB Ph.D. Economic Analysis & Policy Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: 3
  • Institution: Chicago Booth Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: 4
  • Institution: Northwestern Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Checked website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: 5
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Not surprised, but very disappointed. Oh well.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: E-mail to check website Funding: Laughing to hide the tears... Comments: This is old news by now.
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: See decision. Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comment: Looks like Illinois does not like me.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Not surprised, but very disappointed. Oh well.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4 Notified through: E-mail to check website Funding: Laughing to hide the tears... Comments: This is old news by now.
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: See decision. Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comment: Looks like Illinois does not like me.
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: ... Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail (unofficial personalized rejection) Posted on GF: No Comment: This one really really sucks.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comment: Don't care anymore
  • Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comment: Not surprised at this point.
  • Institution: Penn State University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: ... Notification date: 3/10 Notified through: E-mail (from Lynn Sebulsky) Posted on GC: No Comment: More rejections --> disutility
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: ... Notification date: 3/10 Notified through: Snail mail Posted on GC: No Comment: Hm.
  • Institution: Harvard Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: ... Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Postal mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Big shocker...
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/12 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Expected by now.
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: No Comments: Everything is alright.
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: I'm so surprised...
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: E-mail (with PDF attachment) Posted on GC: No Comments: It's ok.
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Reject Funding: ... Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Oh well.
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science Decision: Reject Funding: ... Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Not surprised by now.
  • Institution: U Maryland Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: E-mail to Check Website Posted on GC: No Comments: Not new news.[/QUOTE]
  • Institution: UT-Austin Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Oh well.
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/25 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Oh well.
Waitlists:
    Waitlist: Minnesota
  • Institution: Minnesota Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlist (not the "priority" one) Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Lots of rejections, and even more implicit ones. Hopefully one will work out.
  • Institution: Minnesota Ph.D. Economics Decision: Waitlist (not the "priority" one) Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Lots of rejections, and even more implicit ones. Hopefully one will work out.

decision09 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 overall, top 15 econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.75/4.00 Graduated High Honors Economics
GRE: 760Q, 580V, 5.0 AW (last year 740Q)
Math Courses: Analysis I (B)(blew first 2 exams but aced final to save myself), Modern Algebra (B+), Probability Theory (A-), Ord Diff Eq (A), Combinatorics(Winter 2010), CalcI,II,II,LA(A)
Math Courses (Grad): Intro Topology (Winter 2010)
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Econometrics (A-), Random Field Courses (A), Research Seminars (B+(due to ULWriting) and A), Game Theory (A), Time series Analysis (A-)
Econ Courses (Grad): Micro I (B+), Micro II (B), Econometrics I (B), Math for Economists (B)
Letters of Recommendation: Well-known senior professor from research seminar
The other from a younger associate prof, said he wrote me an A+ letter (took game theory with him + unofficial adviser)
Research Experience: Financial econometrics research for senior thesis(publication: in process); experimental micro theory research. Labor research paper that will likely become my third year paper for my PhD, it caught the interest of a Senior person at my undergrad institution.
Teaching Experience: None.
Research Interests: Everything but Theoretical Econometrics.
Statement of Purpose: Much better the second time around but still about 1800 words, I had a few things to write about my career outside of econ and how it will influence my research.
Other:
Concerns: Poor performance in critical math classes, test jitters!
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Wisconsin Madison, Cornell
Rejections: Umich, Penn, Yale, Texas, Penn State, BU, Maryland, Mich State, Princeton, Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, CalTech, Stanford, Northwestern, Duke
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Wisconsin Madison, Cornell
Rejects:
    Rejections: Umich, Penn, Yale, Texas, Penn State, BU, Maryland, Mich State, Princeton, Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, CalTech, Stanford, Northwestern, Duke
Waitlists:

EconDev137 2010:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Quantitative Economics. & B.A. Political Science
Undergrad GPA: 3.36
GRE: 770Q 570V 4.5 AWA
Math Courses: Calc I-III, (AP, AP, A) Linear Algebra (A), Real Analysis (D), Probability (B+)
Econ Courses: Intro Micro (C), Intro Macro (C), Elementary Econometrics (A), Econometrics (A), Advanced Econometrics (A), Intermediate Micro (A+), Intermediate Macro(A+), Economic Growth (A), Economic Development (B+), Environmental Economics (B+), International Monetary Policy (A)
Grad Courses: Advanced Micro (A), Advanced Macro (A-)
Letters of Recommendation: All very good, from top 10.
Research Experience: Work at a public policy think tank. Thesis in Political Science.
Research Interests: Applied micro, development
Statement of purpose: Way better than average
Other: LORs are the most vital part of your application. Do not overlook the importance of building quality relationships with a few profs. However don't use this as an excuse to be a kissa$$.
RESULTS:
PhD Accepts: Arizona (tuition waiver and assistantship for years 2-5), Purdue (nothing official, but presumed tuition plus 18k), Colorado-Boulder (waitlisted for $),
PhD Waitlists: Boston College (Decent Chance of admit, but won't know until after deadlines for other schools), OSU (acceptance not probable)
PhD Rejections: Duke, Maryland, Penn State, Vanderbilt and Indiana,
Masters Accepts: Michigan, Boston University, Tornoto
Masters Rejections: Tufts (really?)
Masters Pending: UBC
What would you have done differently? The most glaring thing would be not to have gotten a D in real analysis, I think I could have pulled vanderbilt without that. Other than that I think I had a pretty solid plan. Take the most useful classes you can, do as well as you can and spend your free time having fun. I think people on TM get too worked up about not having an 800Q or a 4.0 at the expense of living life.
Accepts:
    Accepts: Arizona (tuition waiver and assistantship for years 2-5), Purdue (nothing official, but presumed tuition plus 18k), Colorado-Boulder (waitlisted for $), PhD
  • Institution: Boston University Masters Decision: Accepted Funding: Not available for Masters Students Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Very happy. While my goal is still to go to a PhD program at least I have a backup plan now!! :D
  • Institution: Boston University Masters Decision: Accepted Funding: Not available for Masters Students Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Very happy. While my goal is still to go to a PhD program at least I have a backup plan now!!
  • Institution: University of Colorado-Boulder Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Not now, but I am being considered Notification date: 3/10/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: Not Yet
  • Institution: Purdue Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBD Notification date: 3/10/2010 Notified through: Email and Postal Posted on GC:Not Yet
  • Institution: Arizona Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Details will come within the week Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Now I have an excuse to fly to Arizona for a few days
  • Institution: Michigan Economics MAE Decision: Admitted Notification date: 4/1 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Funding: No Idea Comments: Baring some amazing funding package or unreal placements, I'm pretty sure I'm going to decline, but the email said to wait a week before responding because they are going to be so busy.
  • Institution: U of Toronto Masters Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Can apply for a TA in July Notification date: 4/6 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comment: Will decline
  • Institution: UBC Masters Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No Details at all, but I think I will get some Notification date: 4/13/10 Notified through: Email and Postal to follow within 24 hours Comments: Will Decline,
Rejects:
    Rejections: Duke, Maryland, Penn State, Vanderbilt and Indiana, Masters
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes
  • Institution: Duke Economics, PhD Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2-16-2010 Notified through: Email to Link Posted on GF: Yes Comments: So happy that TM is back
  • Institution: Duke Economics, PhD Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2-16-2010 Notified through: Email to Link Posted on GF: Yes Comments: So happy that TM is back
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: No Notification date: 3/10/201 Notified through:Email Posted on GC:Not Yet
  • Institution: Tufts Masters Decision: Rejected Funding: No Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through:Personal e-mail Posted on GC:Not Yet Sorry I took so long to post these. I was out of the country with no internet all week.
  • Institution:Vanderbilt Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/30 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Funding: ... Comments: Very Upset
  • Institution: Indiana Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/31 Notified through: Email Response to an inquiry Posted on GF: Yes Funding: - Comments: Looking more and more like Arizona
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Boston College (Decent Chance of
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2-28-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Said I will remain waitlisted until at least April 15th when more spots could become available. It was sent really late on sunday night as well.
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2-28-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Said I will remain waitlisted until at least April 15th when more spots could become available. It was sent really late on sunday night as well.

2pm 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.B.A, Econ concentration from large state university with no PhD program
Undergrad GPA: 4.0
Type of Grad: M.A. Econ, same school
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 790Q, 640V, 4.0AWA
Math Courses: Cal I (AP test), II (Community College), III, Intro to Proofs, Matrices and Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Real Analysis I
Econ Courses (master level): Macro, Micro, Metrics, International Finance, Health Econ, Time Series, Research Methods, Forecasting
Econ Courses (undergrad): Intermediate Macro, Micro, Metrics, Money & Banking, Math for Economist (same class with graduate level)
Other Courses: Mostly in business
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors , been told they are all strong
Research Experience: Honors undergrad thesis & master thesis. Nothing spectacular
Teaching Experience: Tutor in the Econ dept
Research Interests: Applied micro
Statement of purpose: Standard, did not customize
Concern: (somewhat) inadequate math background. Realized I wanted to do a Ph.D. in econ too late & tried to cram as much required math courses as possible while finishing my M.A.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: UT Austin ($$) (attending), Houston ($$), Michigan State (no $), BU (no $), UVA (no info on $ yet)
Waitlists: BC, UW-M long waitlist -> rejection
Rejections: let me count the way…Yale, Berkeley, Columbia, NYU, Michigan, UCLA, UCSD, UMN, Duke, PSU, Maryland, WUSTL
Pending: Ohio State (the earliest deadline, still nothing yet. Oh the irony!)
What would you have done differently? Hard to say, since I know beforehand there will be lots of noise in my results anyway. Probably take more math and get 800Q in GRE? Perhaps spend more time on my SOP, although I don’t feel comfortable discussing my research goals & ideas in details since I don’t even know which field I am interested in at the time of the application process. One thing I won’t regret is not transferring. I have made some fantastic friends and built tremendous relationship w/ the faculty at my current university. Overall, I’m extremely happy. 2 years ago when I decided to go for a Ph.D. in economics I didn’t think I could even make it to a mid-rank program, so UT is definitely a step up from my expectations.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: UT Austin ($$) (attending), Houston ($$), Michigan State (no $), BU (no $), UVA (no info on $ yet)
  • Institution: UT Austin economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship, details TBA Notification date: 03/9/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comment: Thrilled! First offer after going 0 for 7...
  • Institution: Houston economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship + Fellowship Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: very flattered but will likely decline due to better offer...
  • Institution: Michigan State Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: no first year $ Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: unlikely to attend w/out funding
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Admit Funding: nada Notification date: 3/24/10 Notified through: Email Comments: a strong ego-boost. But will probably decline since there is little chance I'm getting financial aid
  • Institution: UVA Economics PhD Decision: Admit Funding: No information on the letter Notification date: 03/24 Notified through: randomly checked website Comments: Happy
Rejects:
    rejection Rejections: let me count the way…Yale, Berkeley, Columbia, NYU, Michigan, UCLA, UCSD, UMN, Duke, PSU, Maryland, WUSTL
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No.
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: one of my dream schools...
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comment: expected...
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: Randomly check Testudo website Posted on GC: No Comments: bleh...
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/23/2010 Notified through: email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: WUSTL Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 04/06/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comment: Took them long enough...
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: BC, UW-M long waitlist ->
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2-28-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Same email as EconDev. It seems very uncertain though, who knows what will happen after 4/15?
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2-28-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Same email as EconDev. It seems very uncertain though, who knows what will happen after 4/15?

tm_guru 2010:
Type of Undergrad: University College Dublin, Ireland, BSc in Economics & Finance (Final Year Concentration - Mathematical Analysis) Undergrad GPA: First Class Honours - converts to a 3.74 GPA according to WES conversion, higher grades in Math and Econ, boring but required Finance/Tax/Accounting classes dragged me down
Type of Grad: National University of Ireland, Galway MSc in Economic Science (Concentratiion - Planning and Policy Evaluation), essentially it was an MPP/MPA degree but we don't really have that in Ireland
Grad GPA: 4.0 (1st out of cohort of ~50 students across 3 concentrations with a lot of common classes)
GRE: 780Q, 630V, 5.0AWA
Math/Stat Courses: 3 semesters of Linear and Matrix Algebra, 2 semesters of calculus (although very little if any multivariate calculus), courses called 'Analysis and Calculus', 'Complex Analysis', various Math for Econ/Finance classes, 3 semesters of Math Stats/Probability... I honestly have no idea if I am prepared for core classes adequately... all A's except one B and one awful grade which I explained in my SOP.
Econ Courses: 3 semesters of Macro (1 MS-level), 4 semesters of Micro (1 MS-level), 4 semesters of Econometrics (1 MS-level) 2 semesters of International Econ, 2 semesters of Public Econ, 3 semesters of Game Theory, Economics of Innovation, Economics of Education... tons really... I hope this will help me get started with research
Other Courses: Tax/Accounting/Finance/Management, nothing useful
Letters of Recommendation: All were strong but mainly graduated in the 1960's or 1970's, 1 has a UCI PhD, 1 LSE, 1 UMD CP (Math), and one had a PhD from Edinburgh but who has an impressive CV and was a visiting professor at Berkeley last year... I used different combinations of three for different schools. I will speak more about this below.
Research Experience: Central Bank internship, MS Thesis (my adviser awarded me the highest grade he has given to a student in 30 years at that University)
Teaching Experience: lots, 3 semesters as a TA, 6 years giving private tutorials to groups of 1-10 students amounting to probably over 200 students in over a dozen different subjects from math to stats to econ
Research Interests: Applied Micro - health, education, labor, public policy, etc.
Statement of purpose: I had too much to explain for it to stand out, I spent the entire 1000 words explaining the holes in my profile (more on this below)
Concerns: Everything...
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Rutgers (no funding), PSU (generous TA funding), UPitt (top fellowship),
Waitlists: BC, UMass-Amherst
Rejections: CMU, Rochester, Syracuse, Cornell, Wharton, Georgetown, UVA, Duke
What would you have done differently?
As many know, this is my second time around, the mistakes I made in last year's applications are embarrassing when I think about them so I will only say this about it - I was blissfully ignorant of the entire process, how many schools to apply to, what a US PhD program entailed, what to say in a SOP, how I would compare to other students... you name it, I messed it up! Seriously, I applied to schools that suited me geographically, no other criteria, I had no idea what I was doing or about the research strengths of different schools... then I found this forum! I am also fortunate to have a fiancee who eventually helped me understand the US education system.
I have ended up at this point in my life not because of careful planning or organization, but through sheer luck and good fortune. I picked my UG degree ten years ago on a whim, and I am lucky that it covered the required analysis, calculus, and algebra courses... We have denominated degrees in Ireland, so you have to decide which one to pursue at age 17 before graduating from 'secondary' school and then apply through a centralized application system. I was going to do Electrical Engineering, but the dot.com crash in 2000/2001 made me change my mind literally an hour before the deadline... only for that decision I would be in a very different place in my life.
I also pursued a Master's degree in Ireland with the intent of 'lecturing' at a community college-type institution but as soon as I returned to the classroom something just changed, I suddenly found myself devouring journal literature, participating in class, loving my TA duties, and acing all my exams... I can only think that the change in my attitude towards classes and college was maturity. As an undergrad I was rarely even in class, never mind an active participant.
Other mistakes - I hurriedly took the GRE as I had no idea how important it was (I took one - paper - practice exam). I decided not to retake as I was worried about not getting an 800 and the signal that might send. I probably could have gotten an 800 with one day of genuine preparation...
In terms of LORs, the three schools I got accepted to, and one of the waitlists were a particular combination of letters, I used that combination for Duke too, but not anywhere else. I know it is a small sample size, but of 5 schools with that specific combination of letters I got 3 acceptances, and 1 waitlist. I got 1 waitlist and 7 rejections when I didn't use that combination of letters. Interesting, very interesting.
However, I can say with all honesty that I am delighted with how things have worked out for me, I am sure I will be very successful and more than intellectually satisfied at UPitt.
Lastly, I am a prime example of the noise associated with applicants coming from unknown schools/countries. I received the top fellowship from 400 applicants to UPitt this year, received full funding at PSU, but was rejected by Syracuse. It is bizarre!
If any forum members, and especially applicants coming from unknown universities, have any questions please feel free to PM me!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Rutgers (no funding), PSU (generous TA funding), UPitt (top fellowship),
  • Institution: Rutgers PhD Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: None (no mention of a waitlist either) Notification date: Jan 27th 2009 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) Comments: Bizarrethat there is not even a hope of funding offered
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Accept with generous TAship. Generous being an understatement given the low COL in central PA. Notification date: 02/10/2010 Notified through: email Posted on Gradcafe: nope, why on earth would I do that, TM forever! Comment: Awesome awesome feeling!
  • Institution: U Pittsburgh Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Slesinger fellowship year one, regular funding after that (just under 18k, but does not include health insurance) Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Not sure what to make of the offer... fellowship is nice!
  • Institution: Penn State Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TAship - 24k, plus 800f already subsidized health insurance Notification date: 2/15 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Nice!
  • Institution: Rutgers Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: none Notification date: 1/27 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: No funding, so declined:)
  • Institution: Rutgers Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: none Notification date: 1/27 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: No funding, so declined
Rejects:
    Rejections: CMU, Rochester, Syracuse, Cornell, Wharton, Georgetown, UVA, Duke
  • Institution:Cornell Econ Decision:Reject Funding: N/A Notification date:8th Feb 2010 Notified through:email
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
  • Institution: Duke University Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 2/17 Notified through: Website. Posted on GF: no Comments: Disappointed
  • Institution: Cornell Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 2/15 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: meh
  • Institution: Rochester Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Not bothered, only really applied there cause the apps are free! Couldn't even begin to imagine living in Rochester for 5 years :-/
  • Institution: Rochester Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Not bothered, only really applied there cause the apps are free! Couldn't even begin to imagine living in Rochester for 5 years :-/
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: E-mail telling me to check the website Comments: I would have been so torn if I got in... Philly is not my favorite place, but the program would have been perfect for me
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) PhD Econ and PP Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/25/10 Notified through: Mass email Comments: Expected. Ironic as I just arrived at my hotel in Pittsburgh, I can see the campus, and I opened my computer and bam, rejection email...
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: BC, UMass-Amherst
  • Institution: UMass - Amherst Phd Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2/23 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Really wanted to get an offer and to go visit the department and see what the program is really about... there's so much good and bad said about this program
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2-28-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: My second year to be waitlisted at BC, they didn't take anyone from the waitlist last year...
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 2-28-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: My second year to be waitlisted at BC, they didn't take anyone from the waitlist last year...

econsailorgirl 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Economics Major, mid-size public university
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4 overall
Type of Grad: n/a
GRE: 790Q, 710V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Single and Multi-variable Calculus, Linear Algebra I and II, Probability and Statistics
Econ Courses: Intermediate Micro/Macro, Advanced Micro, many applied micro courses (Environmental, Health, etc.), Econometrics, Economy History, Experimental Econ, Game Theory
Other coursework: Many courses in Environmental Sciences/Studies and Geology
Letters of Recommendation: 1 well-known Berkeley ARE, 1 other Berkeley ARE, 1 UWashington
Statement of Purpose: Research interests, interest in Economics in general, how each program fit with my interests
Research Experience: Very little formal--mostly through coursework
Teaching Experience: Economics tutor, environmental educator
Research Interests: primarily agriculture and development, but also environmental
RESULTS:
Acceptances: U. of Rhode Island ENRE ($$), UC Davis ARE ($$), UMD AREC (wl$), U. Wisconsin AAE (wl$),
Waitlists: Johns Hopkins Health Econ and Policy
Rejections: UC Berkeley ARE, Harvard Econ, Duke Econ
Attending: UC Davis
What would you have done differently?
I feel very good about the outcome. There's nothing off the top of my head that I would have done differently.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: U. of Rhode Island ENRE ($$), UC Davis ARE ($$), UMD AREC (wl$), U. Wisconsin AAE (wl$),
  • Institution: UC Davis Agricultural and Resource Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TA/RA and tuition Notification date: 2/1/10 Notified through: phone Posted on Gradcafe: yes Date of Gradcafe post: 2/1/10
Rejects:
    Rejections: UC Berkeley ARE, Harvard Econ, Duke Econ
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Johns Hopkins Health Econ and Policy

njskatchmo 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Large State School with Ranked PhD Program
Undergrad GPA: 3.71 Overall, 3.93 Econ
Type of Grad: N/A
Grad GPA: N/A
GRE: 800Q, 660V, 4.5
Math Courses: Calc I - III (A,A, B+), Intro Lin. Alg (A), Proof Writing (B+), Linear Algebra (proof based) (Current), Real Analysis (Current), Math Theory of Probability(Current), Diff Eq(Current)
Econ Courses: Intro Micro/Macro (A,A), Intermediate Micro/Macro (B+, A), Econometrics and Advanced econometrics (B+, A) 8 or 9 econ electives (All A's except for B+ in Financial Economics)
Grad Econ Courses N/A
Other Courses: Complete Political Science Major
Letters of Recommendation: One from Thesis Advisor, One from Professor who knows me very well, One from Advanced Econometrics Prof. (All come from Top 10 programs)
Research Experience: Undergrad thesis
Teaching Experience: Tutored Economics, Calculus, and, Statistics at the campus learning center
Research Interests: Environmental Economics , Developmental Economics
SOP: Spoke of how I got into economics and my long term goals
Other: Took challenging course loads. 4 upper division math classes at once, 21 credits in one semester.
Some interesting work experience and volunteer around the world and with NGO's.
My GPA is low from freshman year when I didn't care and had a 3.1 for the year.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Nowhere
Waitlists: Nowhere
Rejections: Pretty much every school in the top 20 rejected me plus UC Davis and Cambridge (Minus Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Tepper)
Pending: Nowhere
What would you have done differently? Started my math as early as possible so I didn't have to have a killer senior year. Taken RA with easy classes. Gotten one more point or so that would have given me an A in Econometrics and Intermediate Micro. I believe that the lack of math completed at the time of application was the reason for my rejection.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Nowhere
Rejects:
    Rejections: Pretty much every school in the top 20 rejected me plus UC Davis and Cambridge (Minus Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Tepper)
  • Institution: Duke Econ PhD Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email alerting me that the decision was on the application website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Nowhere

blablabla 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A in Economics, top South American University
Undergrad GPA: 7.9/10.0
Type of Grad: M.A in Economics, same University
Grad GPA: 3.95 (converted). 8 A's and 1 B
GRE: 800Q 490V 3.5 AWA
TOEFL: 103
Math Courses: Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Math Economics I and II, Math Economics (grad level: sort of a real analysis course)
Econ Courses (undergrad level): A lot.
Econ Courses (grad level): Micro I and II, Macro I, Econometrics I and II, Microdevelopment I and II, Contract Theory
Other Courses: NA
Letters of Recommendation: 1 PhD UCLA and 1 PhD BU (probably very good ones), 1 PhD Yale and 1 PhD Chicago (probably not so good ones)
Research Experience: Nothing special. 1 year in a research foundation
Teaching Experience: 1 semester as TA for grad Econometrics I, 1 semester as TA for undergrad Econometrics II
Research Interests: Development Economics, Microeconometrics
SoP: Standard, I think.
Other: NA
RESULTS:
Acceptances: A few. Wisconsin-Madison (no $ 1yr), Maryland ($), Brown ($), LSE MRes/Track 1 (no $)
Waitlists: None
Rejections: A lot. MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Berkeley, NYU, Duke, Michigan, BU, UCL, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Cornell
Pending: None
Attending: Brown
What would you have done differently?
1. Get higher grades as an undergrad.
2. Lack of math. I would have taken real analysis/measure theory
3. One of the probably-not-so-good letter of recommendation is my currently advisor. HUGE mistake.
Anyway, I am happy with my outcome! Good luck to all future applicants!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: A few. Wisconsin-Madison (no $ 1yr), Maryland ($), Brown ($), LSE MRes/Track 1 (no $)
Rejects:
    Rejections: A lot. MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Berkeley, NYU, Duke, Michigan, BU, UCL, Princeton, Stanford, Chicago, Cornell
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: None

El Greco 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: top 50 large public university - to 10 business school. B.S. in finance and international business
Undergrad GPA: 3.76
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 790/610/4.5 (q/v/awa)
Math Courses: Calc I-III (A+,A,current), Finite Math (B+), Intro to Stats (B+), DiffyQ 1 (current), Prob & Stats 1 (current),
Econ Courses: Intro Micro/Macro (A-,A), Inter Micro (A), Bus Econ (A-), Banking and Cap Mkts (A)
Other Courses: finance courses
Letters of Recommendation: Probably pretty good, one was my thesis advisor (UCLA PHD finance), cap mkts class (WVU PHD Econ), inter micro (PHD Cornell)
Research Experience: Just undergraduate thesis on credit derivatives
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: fin econ, behavioral econ/finance, monetary econ, macro
SOP: I think it was normal to good.
Other:
RESULTS: (masters)
Acceptances: Tufts ($), BU (no $)
Waitlists: Duke
Rejections: Duke (off waitlist), UToronto MFE
Pending: WashU MfinWhat would you have done differently? I was happy to get into Tufts w some $. I was a finance major with little math background and have been taking math/econ courses at a local university back home in florida. I don't know what I want to do (phd/private sector) but I am happy with Tufts. After getting into Tufts i rescinded and didn't complete other international apps because I'd rather be in the states, hopefully that doesnt end up being a bad decision but tufts is a good school with a good reputation and I am really excited to start there in the fall
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Tufts ($), BU (no $)
  • Institution: Tufts University MS Economics Decision: Accepted (unofficial) Funding: 65% tuition, 4.5k TA-ship for 1st semester + if im good enough Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Yay!!! Wondering if i should even bother applying to other programs since most don't offer any funding
  • Institution: BU MA Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 04/01 Notified through: E-mail Funding: None Comments: Cool, but, w no funding, I will be choosing Tufts w/ $ over this..
Rejects:
    Rejections: Duke (off
  • Institution: U of Toronto Masters in Financial Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/25/10 Notified through: letter Comments: Expected. Especially after the back and forth with the department over supplemental material. Really a pain in the a$$.
  • Institution: Duke University MA Economics Decision: Rejected off the waitlist Funding: NA Notification date: 4/12/10 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Oh well.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Duke
  • Institution: Duke MA Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: was disappointed but happy it wasn't an outright rejection

MorgieLilly 2010:
Type of Undergrad: B.A in Economics-Philosophy and Mathematics from top 10 undergrad with a top 15 econ department.
Undergrad GPA: 3.85
GRE: 780Q, 640V, 4.0W
Math Courses (undergrad):Cal I, Calc III, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, Probability and Statistics, Advanced Logic, (all As)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro-econometrics (A-), Graduate Macroeconomics (A-)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intermediate Micro/Macro(A-,B+), Advanced Econometrics (B+), Advanced Macro (A), Game Theory (A-), Economic History (A-), International (C, took abroad in Ghana)
Letters of Recommendation:
Economics. Well Known. My boss.
Economics. Well Known. Professor. (I wrote an empirical research paper for his course.)
Philosophy of Science. Professor. (I took two classes with him. I wrote a paper that I presented at a philosophy conference. He advised me on a documentary that I made as a senior.)
Mathematics. Professor. (Adviser for my senior research project.)
Geophysics. Researcher. (Adviser for my REU research project. )
Research Experience: REU Intern in geophysics at Lamont Earth Observatory, summer 2007 (My paper was accepted to the 2008 ASLO Conference). I also published a paper in the philosophy of science when I was a sophomore, but I'm not so proud now of what I said and the journal was not a big deal at all. Full-time economics RA since July 2008 for one of my letter writers. I've made a bunch of documentaries and I included one in my application.
Research Interests: Development, Growth Theory, Economic History.
Statement of Purpose: Talked about my background, why I chose to pursue interdisciplinary undergraduate study. Talked about my experiences abroad in Ghana, my research experience at Lamont and as an RA and my motivation for studying development and poverty issues.
Applied to: MIT, NYU, Harvard, UC Berkeley, Columbia, UMich, Princeton, Yale, UCLA, UC Davis, BU, Duke, Brown, Northwestern, U Penn
Admitted: BU(wl/$), UCLA(wl/$), UC Davis($$), Michigan($$/Regents Fellowship), Brown(wl/$)
Rejected: MIT, NYU, Harvard, UC Berkeley, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, Duke, Northwestern, U Penn
Attending: Brown(no first year funding, 19.5K+health+tuition years 2-5)
What I would have done differently: I don't think I would have gone to any other school over Brown. I would have considered MIT, Yale or Harvard. But honestly, I couldn't be happier. The debt will be worth it. I know it.
Accepts:
  • Institution:UC Davis Econ Decision: Admitted! Funding: TBD in March. Notification date: 8th Feb 2010 Notified through:Informal email. Posted on Gradcafe: Nope. Don't know how. Date of Gradcafe post: N/A Comments: Hooray!
  • Institution: UC Davis Phd Economics Decision: Admitted! Funding: 16K for first two years (and I'm hoping after if I'm doing alright.) Notification date: 2/8 Notified through: Unofficial E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: I was so excited and happy that I cried.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: Tuition Waiver + Health Coverage. 16K stipend guaranteed after first year, conditional on good standing. Notification date: 02/28 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Excited! Hoping for 1st year stipend.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: Tuition Waiver + Health Coverage. 16K stipend guaranteed after first year, conditional on good standing. Notification date: 02/28 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Excited! Hoping for 1st year stipend.
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: e-mail Funding: Wait-list for first year funding. Notification date: 3/16/10 Posted on GC: No Comments: Cool! However, I really wish they'd sent this yesterday. I asked and begged and asked and now I'm leaving LA in three hours. =(
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Admit Funding: None Notification date: 3/24/10 Notified through: Email
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email alerting online decision Posted on Gradcafe: no
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/18 Notified Through: Checked online status randomly. Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: Bummer.
  • Institution: Duke University Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: Website. Posted on GF: Yes Comments: I was really interested in this department, so this was disappointing.
  • Institution: Yale University Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: Website. Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Rejections are a bummer.
  • Institution: Northwestern University Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Website. Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Chicago is cold. (That's what I'm telling myself to feel better.):)
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 1st March Notified through: Email (Mass email) Posted on GF: No Comments: Auro-reply from Jody: "If you are inquiring about Admission results for the PhD program, be advised that students who have been recommended for admission have been notified. If you have not received notification, I'm sorry, but it means you were not admitted. Official notification will come later from the Admissions Office. Please do not contact the Economics Department to inquire about results."
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: March 1st Notified through: Confirmation that all who have not heard are implicitly rejected. Posted on GF: Yes Comments: I saw this as kinda like buying a one time lottery ticket. Even though I sort of knew I wouldn't get in. If I hadn't applied, I'd always wonder.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: This one didn't hurt as much. Maybe I'm getting used to this process.
  • Institution: Northwestern University Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/a Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Website. Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Chicago is cold. (That's what I'm telling myself to feel better.)
  • Institution: Columbia University Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 1st March Notified through: Email (Mass email) Posted on GF: No Comments: Auro-reply from Jody: "If you are inquiring about Admission results for the PhD program, be advised that students who have been recommended for admission have been notified. If you have not received notification, I'm sorry, but it means you were not admitted. Official notification will come later from the Admissions Office. Please do not contact the Economics Department to inquire about results."
  • Institution: Harvard Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: March 1st Notified through: Confirmation that all who have not heard are implicitly rejected. Posted on GF: Yes Comments: I saw this as kinda like buying a one time lottery ticket. Even though I sort of knew I wouldn't get in. If I hadn't applied, I'd always wonder.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: This one didn't hurt as much. Maybe I'm getting used to this process.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comment: It's chill.
  • Institution: University of Pennsylvania Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: E-mail to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Got email back from Marge Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: MIT Economics Phd. Decision: Rejected Notified through: E-mail Notification date: 03/16 Posted on GC: Nah
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Wait Listed for Funding Notified through: e-mail Date: March 8

ilikefreefood 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Econ major from a top 5-10 Midwestern liberal arts college.
Undergrad GPA: 3.73/4, magna cum laude, distinction in major for senior thesis research.
Type of Grad: first semester of PhD microeconomics at Maryland
Grad GPA: 3.00/4.00 (B+)
GRE: 800Q 640V 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc II-III (A,B+), Linear Algebra (Pass), Statistics (A), Mathematical Structures (A-), Real Analysis (B, taken as a non-degree student at a local school Fall 2008), Probability (A, taken as a non-degree student at a local school Summer 2009)
Econ Courses: Principles Micro/Macro (A-,A), Intermediate Micro (A) Intermediate Macro (B), Econometrics (B+), PhD Micro Theory I (B+), pre-thesis seminar (A-), Ag. & Food Econ. (A), Development Econ. (B+), Econ. of Inequality (A), Econ. of Water Policy (B+), British Econ. history (B+)
Other Courses: A pass/fail seminar on game theory, a Poli. Sci. course on agent-based computer modeling (A)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Econ. professors (liberal arts college profs but with Chicago/Stanford PhDs), including my thesis adviser who has previously stated that my thesis was one of the best he's ever advised. 1 Partner at my Econ. consulting firm with whom I've worked extensively on econometric analyses (PhD Cornell).
Where possible, a third Econ. professor (PhD Chicago).
Research Experience: ~3.5 years as an RA in a major Econ. consulting firm; I specialize in statistical and econometric analysis within my office.
Awards: Thesis award from state Economics association, thesis presentation award from state science association, college fellowship
for (non-research) work in development related to microfinance.
Research Interests: Development, environmental/resource economics, urban economics, general applied micro.
Statement of Purpose: Well-written but fairly standard; mentioned specifically my interest in development and applied micro fields.
Other: This is my second time applying, and I am reapplying to several schools with the additional Probability and PhD micro courses and a new letter of recommendation. I am deferred at Minnesota ARE from last year.
Applying to: Maryland, Maryland AREC, Duke, UC Berkeley ARE, Washington, Wharton Applied Economics, Michigan, Penn, Yale, Chicago, Michigan State, Northwestern, WUSTL, Georgetown, Texas, Boston University, UCSD, Cornell, Brown, UC Davis ARE, Illinois, Penn State, Virginia
RESULTS:
Attending: Boston University
Acceptances: Boston University (no $), U. of Washington ($), Michigan State ($ waitlist), Illinois ($), UC Davis ARE ($), Maryland AREC ($).
Rejections: Maryland Econ., Duke, UC Berkeley ARE, Wharton Applied Economics, Michigan, Penn, Yale, Chicago, Northwestern, Washington U. in St. Louis, Texas, UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Penn State, Virginia
No Response: Georgetown
What would you have done differently?
I would have taken more care to keep my grades in key courses consistently high in college to avoid a few potential red flags. I would have started my math education earlier and taken more classes as an undergrad. I would have worked only 2 years as an economic consultant and timed the business cycle to avoid applying in 2009 and 2010. I would have applied last year to a few schools that just missed my 2009 list (BU, Washington, and Illinois were all nearly on it), and potentially avoided the annoyance of waiting another year. I would have done more research to discount the advice of my advisors who said I would definitely get into schools on my 2009 list. All those things said, i feel that BU is really a fabulous program for my interests, and I am very, very excited to be headed there.
Accepts:
    Attending: Boston University Acceptances: Boston University (no $), U. of Washington ($), Michigan State ($
  • Institution: UC Davis ARE Decision: Accepted Funding: "We are going to offer you funding" Notification date: January 28th Notified through: Phone (Voicemail) Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) Yes Comments: This feels good.
  • Institution:UC Davis (ARE) Agricultural & Resource Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 16K RA/TA Notification date: 1/28 Notified through: Phone Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: A solid first offer to start the season.
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for TAship Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comment: The plot thickens.
  • Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: First year fellowship 8.5k, TA years 2-5 17k + tuition & fee waiver Notification date: 3/23/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Booyah.
  • Institution: Maryland (AREC) Agricultural & Applied Economics (AREC) Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for assistantship Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Official letter said no possibility of funding, but it was followed by an email saying "Under normal budgetary conditions, we would have made an offer of financial assistance in the form of a graduate assistantship ... our ability to support incoming graduate students is severely limited at this time. I wanted you to know that your name has been place on a waiting list for just such an assistantship."
  • Institution: Boston University (BU) Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/29 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Funding: No funding. Comments: Given my interests, this is a tempting option. Lots of thinking to do.
  • Institution: University of Washington, Seattle Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "we are in a position to make you a funded offer" Notification date: 4/15 Notified through: Email (at 1:15am Pacific!) Comments: UW never really officially told me I was in before this because I told them I wouldn't come without funding. However, I have given this eventuality a lot of thought in the past few days, and I will decline their funded offer for an unfunded offer at BU. In spite of the funding-related antics, I really liked UW, I love Seattle, and this was a tough decision to make.
Rejects:
    Rejections: Maryland Econ., Duke, UC Berkeley ARE, Wharton Applied Economics, Michigan, Penn, Yale, Chicago, Northwestern, Washington U. in St. Louis, Texas, UCSD, Cornell, Brown, Penn State, Virginia No Response: Georgetown
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes
  • Institution: Yale Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/18/2010 Notified through: email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes Comments: expected
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Bummer. As with many other posters, I'm going to try not to read into this one too much.
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: More or less expected.
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comment: Very disappointing. Last year they held my application until April, and since then I have added a letter of recommendation from a Cornell Ph.D.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Never really expected to get in, but boy I wish it hadn't taken so long to determine that I hadn't.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Not surprised to get re-rejected, but this was a program at which my advisor thought I had a good shot, so it's still a bummer.
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: More or less expected.
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comment: Very disappointing. Last year they held my application until April, and since then I have added a letter of recommendation from a Cornell Ph.D.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Never really expected to get in, but boy I wish it hadn't taken so long to determine that I hadn't.
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: Not surprised to get re-rejected, but this was a program at which my advisor thought I had a good shot, so it's still a bummer.
  • Institution: Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/05 Notified through: Email Comment: Got the email during a presentation at a flyout. So expected I didn't even flinch.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Ag & Resource Econ (ARE) Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notified through: E-mail Date: 03/08 Comment: This one is a major disappointment. I really wanted to go here, and my advisor thought I had an excellent shot.
  • Institution: Penn State Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Bummer. I'm pretty sure my family would've loved to see me as a Nittany Lion.
  • Institution: Penn Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Not really.
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email (check website) Posted on GC: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Interesting program, but I didn't think I was going to get in anyway.
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Obviously this one was assumed at this point, but it's especially disappointing because I took a graduate course in this department to beef up my application recently. C'est la vie.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comments: -
  • Institution: University of Texas, Austin Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: Yes Comments: Bummer. I'm hanging out with friends from Austin today and had to break the news to them that I won't be joining them anytime soon.
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/31 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: Yes Funding: - Comments: Charlottesville would have been nice.
  • Institution: Washington U. in St. Louis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 4/6 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: Yes Comment: The field narrows.
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 4/16/10 Notified through: Letter Comment: Maybe Georgetown's objective in waiting till after April 15th is to ensure that no one cares if they're rejected?
Waitlists:
    waitlist), Illinois ($), UC Davis ARE ($), Maryland AREC ($).

Le_Walrus 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Engineering, top three university in a small, but well known Latin American country
Undergrad GPA: 5.2/7
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800Q, 570V, 3.5AWA
TOEFL: 109/120
Math Courses: Advanced Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Numerical Analysis, Complex Analysis, Optimal Control Theory, Probability and Statistics, Operations Research I and II
Econ Courses: Micro and Macro Theory
Other Courses: Lots of Engineering courses.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 econ professors, 1 math professor, 1 computer programming professor
Research Experience: Research assistant in several economics projects, undergraduate thesis in macro involving dynamic programming
Teaching Experience: TA of computer programming, Micro theory and Dynamic Macroeconomics
Research Interests: Macro theory, growth
SOP: The usual, maybe a little different because of my engineering background
Other: My grades may seem low, but in fact they are really high, and my recommenders avail that.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: Rochester ($)
Waitlists: JHU
Rejections: Princeton, Berkeley, Northwestern, Minnesota, Columbia, UPenn, Brown, Duke, UCSD, WUSTL, Maryland, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Indiana
Pending: Texas, UWO
What would you have done differently?
It was an somewhat expected outcome, coming from an relatively unknown university with an engineering background. My advice to other people with similar background? Get a masters degree. And start talking to people who know people...
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Rochester ($)
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03/01/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Nice!!!! What a relief!!!!
Rejects:
    Rejections: Princeton, Berkeley, Northwestern, Minnesota, Columbia, UPenn, Brown, Duke, UCSD, WUSTL, Maryland, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Indiana
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 17 February, 2010 Notified through: email -> website Comments: was wondering why there were taking so much to reject me...
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/19/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Safety reject... That hurted
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/26/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: I really liked Minnesota...
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Big reach...
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: Too cold :)
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: Too cold
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4/2010 Notified through:E-mail -> Website Posted on GC:No
  • Institution: Pittsburgh Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/8/2010 Notified through:E-mail Posted on GC:No
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9/2010 Notified through:E-mail Posted on GC:No
  • Institution: U Penn Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through:E-mail -> Website Posted on GC:No General Comment: Glad i'm in at Rochester
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: JHU
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Waitlisted at a very selective program... not bad at all

helpzwouldbenice 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 10 liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: 3.79/4.00
Type of Grad:-
Grad GPA:-
GRE: 800Q 710V 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Multivariable Calc (A); Linear Algebra (P); DiffEq (A-); Intro Proofs (A-);
Econ Courses: Intro Econ (B+), Intermediate Micro (A), Intermediate Macro (A), Econ Stats (A), Econometrics (A), Trade (A-), Public Econ (A-)
Other Courses: Took a year of physics, lots of random courses. Lots of A's in courses an econ student typically wouldn't take, like Religion and Chinese.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 Math Dept. Prof, 1 Econ Dept. Prof, 1 External Prof who I RA'd for
Research Experience: Fair amount in health services research. Have a paper up for submission, and another one that my supervisor and I are working on.
Teaching Experience:None
Research Interests: Health, Labor
SOP: Very tailored to my interests. Definitely proved to be hit or miss with regard to schools.
Other: Rejected from NSF
RESULTS:
Acceptances: University of Virginia ($$), Rice University ($$), UNC ($$), Michigan ($$)
Rejections: Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Cornell, Texas, WUSTL, Duke, Caltech, Berkeley, Northwestern, Wharton Applied Econ, Maryland
Never heard from: Wharton Healthcare (interviewed, then never heard back)
Atttending: Michigan
What would you have done differently? Taken more math classes and pushed harder for A's instead of A-'s. My school doesn't have the greatest reputation when it comes to elite grad schools but the teachers are really supportive. I did pretty well here and there's no telling what would have happened if I had gone to a different school.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: University of Virginia ($$), Rice University ($$), UNC ($$), Michigan ($$)
Rejects:
    Rejections: Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Cornell, Texas, WUSTL, Duke, Caltech, Berkeley, Northwestern, Wharton Applied Econ, Maryland
Waitlists:

icebear 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics, Colorado State University
Undergrad GPA: 3.89 (magna cum laude)
Type of Grad: courses during UG: Foundations of Quant Econ Analysis, Political Economy 1
Grad GPA: 4.0
GRE: 790/560/6.0 (2009), 750/570/4.5 (2006)
Math Courses: Calc 1 (A), Calc 2 (B+), Statistical Methods (A), Matrices and Linear Equations (A), Foundations of Quant Econ Analysis (8 week grad math-econ course which covered Simon & Blume) (A+)
Econ Courses: Micro Prin & Inter, Macro Prin & Inter, Econometrics, Independent Study x 2, Comparative Economic Systems, Recent Economic Thought (i.e. History of Academic Economics), Transformation of Central and Eastern European Countries, Privatization and Foreign Capital (B), Globalization - Social and Economic Aspects (B), Games and Decisions (B), Senior Seminar on Globalization and Trade, Political Economy I (graduate level) [Note: all A's except where noted].
Other Courses: Java Programming, freshman year of Electrical Engineering sequence (A's)
Letters of Recommendation: PhDs from MIT, Cambridge, Harvard, Kansas. 1 is a Lead Economist at a international organization, other three are professors; two recent and enthusiastic (regarding research), two enthusiastic but dated (regarding coursework, especially math ability).
Research Experience: Consulting in the private sector and international organizations for ~ 2.5 years, always in close collaboration/supervision with PhD economists.
Teaching Experience: ~1 year teaching English.
Research Interests: International (trade/finance/macro)
SOP: Standard, with a few lines on my grad econ-math course and how my working experience shaped my interests
Other: Intermediate level Chinese, strong experience/knowledge of Chinese development and trade policy, international trade policy, international organizations.
Knew my chances were almost zero at top 10s, but was strongly encouraged to apply to some anyway, given the relatively low costs of additional apps.
RESULTS:
Acceptances: CEMFI ($$), UBC MA ($), Barcelona GSE MSc, Toulouse M2, Carlos III MA ($$)
Waitlists: -
Rejections: Duke PhD, Columbia PhD, JHU PhD, Harvard PhD, UVa PhD, UCSD PhD, NSF GRFP
Pending: Georgetown PhD
Attending: CEMFI
What would you have done differently?
I probably should have taken grad micro/metrics following my grad math-econ course (as typical grad students did), as that signal would have been much stronger than Political Economy 1. More formal math, of course, but I didn't realize that in UG and have never found a schedule complimentary with my working hours since then (I've lived in non-English speaking countries since graduating, so math courses taught in English are pretty limited). Those two things would have done the most to improve my profile, although I wasn't too concerned about it at the time and am happy with how my UG and professional experience has been since then.
That said, I've had talks with my LORs and done some soul searching and am not exactly certain that sinking 5 years into a PhD is the best way to get me where I want to go. Academia is one interesting career path to me, but economic policy research (government, international orgs) or working in China again (in consulting or similar) also hold my interest, and for the later two a MA coupled with 3 more years of working experience and/or language training make more sense. I initially was set on UBC, unfunded, over UC3M, funded, for reputation issues and a better fit with regards to research interests (plus a bad feeling on UC3M's faculty responsiveness from my interactions with them and students), but had a last minute change...
...long after assuming CEMFI had implicitly rejected me I received a invitation to Madrid for an interview in early May to clear up some question marks in my profile (several years of professional experience and goals with pursuing the MA). Apparently I made a good impression, because I was admitted with the standard (?) CEMFI scholarship and stipend. CEMFI made a great impression on me also, with the faculty very warm, responsive and expressing a genuine interest in and support for my several competing career goals and providing clear examples of how CEMFI is well placed to get me there. I was really impressed with the detail they could provide on professional and academic placements relative to most other master's programs' vagueness at this question. So, the main take away is that it isn't over till its over and I'm very pleased to be moving to Madrid next fall!
Accepts:
    Acceptances: CEMFI ($$), UBC MA ($), Barcelona GSE MSc, Toulouse M2, Carlos III MA ($$)
  • Institution: Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (B-GSE) MSc Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: January 26 2010 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Notified within several days of all supporting documents being received. 500 Euro deposit required by late February to maintain offer/status. Good to have a 'safety' as the next six weeks of waiting come; hoping for a better funded option in the meantime (although going elsewhere will be a hard decision - I'm a huge, huge fan of the city).
  • Institution: Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (BGSE) MSc Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: - Notification date: January 26, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Wouldn't mind a year there at all :whistle:
  • Institution: Toulouse School of Economics M2 - Economic theory and econometrics (ECOMATH) Decision: Admitted Funding: - Notification date: February 25, 2010 Notified through: Mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: More affordable than BGSE... but I'm not sure about spending a year in France...
  • Institution: Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (BGSE) MSc Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: - Notification date: January 26, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Wouldn't mind a year there at all
  • Institution: UBC MA Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Partial Tuition Waiver Notification date: 03/18/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Great!
  • Institution: Universidad Carlos III Masters in Economic Analysis Decision: Admitted Funding: $$ Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments:
  • Institution: CEMFI Master in Economics and Finance Decision: Accepted Funding: $$ Notification date: Notified through: Posted on GF: No Comments: Killer
Rejects:
    Rejections: Duke PhD, Columbia PhD, JHU PhD, Harvard PhD, UVa PhD, UCSD PhD, NSF GRFP
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: February 16, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: -
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: Not at all surprising.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: February 16, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: -
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: Not at all surprising.
  • Institution: John Hopkins Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: yes Comments: -
  • Institution: Harvard Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: - Notified through: Post Posted on GC: No Comments: Shocking
  • Institution: U Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/22/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: -
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 3/22/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: -
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: -

Mpianatra 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Top 20 econ program
Undergrad GPA: 3.56/4
Type of Grad: MS in same major/university
Grad GPA: none at time of application
GRE: 780/580/5.5
Math Courses: Calc I/II (A-), Real Analysis (in progress during app), Calc III (A+), Linear Algebra (A), Ord. Diff. Eq. (A) [last three courses taken as non-degree student at state school w/o econ phd]
Econ Courses: Intro Micro/Macro (A), Inter Micro (B+), Inter Macro (A), Labor Economics (B), Income Distribution (A), Developing Country Labor Markets (A-), Applied Econometrics (A-), Econ Dev't (A-), Public Finance (A-), Economic Data (B), Grad Micro Theory I (in progress), Grad Econ of Education (in progress)
Other Courses: Intro Stats (A-)
Letters of Recommendation: Thesis Adviser- known for a long time (pretty strong), Second Thesis Adviser-mostly knew from a course (positive but probably pretty generic), RA prof (also probably pretty generic)
Research Experience: Master's thesis but hadn't done much for it at time of application
Teaching Experience: Just short of teaching credential
Research Interests: Development, Political Economy, Labor
SOP: Nothing special. Run of the mill about why I like econ, why I was qualified, and why I liked the school.
Other:
RESULTS:
Acceptances: American ($?), BU (no $), CUNY (Fellowship), Fordham ($?), Colorado ($$$), UI-Chicago ($?), Washington (no $), Wisconsin ($$)
Waitlists: BC
Rejections: Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, George Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, NYU, Northwestern, UCLA, Maryland, UNC, Notre Dame, USC, Texas,
Attending: Wisconsin
What would you have done differently?
What I wouldn't have done differently was apply to so many schools. I had a lot of reach schools on my list and all it takes is one of them to accept you. Some rejections from very lowly-ranked schools with some acceptances from relatively high-ranked so it can be hard to predict. Obviously getting better grades would always help but I'm very satisfied with the overall results.
Accepts:
    Acceptances: American ($?), BU (no $), CUNY (Fellowship), Fordham ($?), Colorado ($$$), UI-Chicago ($?), Washington (no $), Wisconsin ($$)
  • Institution: UIllinois-Chicago Decision: Accepted Funding: will hear in March Notification date: 2/10 Notified through: Postal Service Posted on GF: yes Comments: At least I got one in the bag
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waiver + $12.5K TAship 1st year, something guaranteed for 3 more years Notification date: 2/27 Notified through: Email + More info by mail Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Anyone else accepted know if they reimburse for flyout?
  • Institution: CUNY Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Short list" for an 18k fellowship Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Likely will withdraw due to better offer.
  • Institution: Fordham University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email Comment: I hadn't researched the program well. Just picked it b/c it's in NYC.
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Tuition waiver + $12.5K TAship 1st year, something guaranteed for 3 more years Notification date: 2/27 Notified through: Email + More info by mail Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Anyone else accepted know if they reimburse for flyout?
  • Institution: CUNY Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Short list" for an 18k fellowship Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: Likely will withdraw due to better offer.
  • Institution: Fordham University Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email Comment: I hadn't researched the program well. Just picked it b/c it's in NYC.
  • Institution: UC-Boulder Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ~15k TA, 5k Fellowship Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comment:
  • Institution: BU Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/29 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Funding: $0 Comments: Out at GWU and in at BU? This is a weird process.
  • Institution: U of Washington Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 3/30 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no Funding: no Comments:
Rejects:
    Rejections: Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, George Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, NYU, Northwestern, UCLA, Maryland, UNC, Notre Dame, USC, Texas,
  • Institution: Duke Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/17 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Minnesota Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: Oh well...
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: No surprise there.
  • Institution: Minnesota Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: Oh well...
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Notre Dame Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail to check Website Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GC: no Comments:
  • Institution: Emory University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: no Comments: got an early interview so this surprised me a bit
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: email response from Marjorie Lesser Comments: zero surprise but still a bummer
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: Mar 15 Notified through: Postal Service Funding: N/A Posted on GF: no Comments:
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: E-mail to Check Website Posted on GC: No Comments: C'est la vie.
  • Institution: George Washington Phd Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/27 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Funding: n/a Comments: Seriously? Definitely didn't expect this.
  • Institution: University of Texas Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 04/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comment:
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: BC
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 12:30am ET 3/1 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Not sure if I'll put my name on the list or not...
  • Institution: Boston College Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Waitlisted Notification date: 12:30am ET 3/1 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Not sure if I'll put my name on the list or not...

Mr. Stochastic 2010:
Type of Undergrad: BSc Econonomics and Business Administration at best institution in small European country. Exchange at top 10 european b-school.
Undergrad GPA: Top 5 percent.
GRE/TOEFL: 800Q/410V/5.0 AWA.TOEFL: 113
Math Courses: Math for Econ, A. Analysis and Diff. eq, B. Statistics for economists A.
Econ Courses (u/g): Intro and intermediate micro, macro, As and Bs. International econ, econ geography, european econ, labour econ. Mostly As.
Grad courses: None.
Other Courses: Four finance, all As. Managment, Bs.
Letters of Recommendation: 1 good from well-published, well-connected mit phd, former dean of school and minister in my country. 1 unknown from semi-well-published professor who gave me an a in advanced micro. 1 very good from unknown AP at b-school I was on exchange.
Research Experience: None.
Teaching Experience: None.
Research Interests: Micro theory, public econ.
Statement of Purpose: Pretty standard. Focused on how my interests got developed through a diverse set of experiences (journalism, army service).
Other: Fulbright fellowship. Won math competitions.
Concerns: No research experiences. Poor math credentials, although I can document ability. Unknown school. Unknown recommenders and unknown quality of one of them. No MA-level experience.
Applying to:Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Berkeley, Upenn, Northwestern (likely rejected), Maryland, Michigan, Duke (rejected), Cornell (rejected), Caltech. Yale IDE and LSE EME (accepted).
Accepts:
  • Institution: LSE Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, MSc Decision: Accepted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: Randomly checked lseforyou, got mail confirming three hours later. Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Relieved
  • Institution: LSE Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, MSc Decision: Accepted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: Randomly checked lseforyou, got mail confirming three hours later. Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Relieved
Rejects:
  • Institution: Cornell Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/8 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
Waitlists:

AppliedEcon 2010:
Profile
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Double Major in Math/Econ. Public liberal arts college
Undergrad GPA: A couple B’s but Phi Beta Kappa and probably Summa Cum Laude and honors in both majors
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: None
GRE: 800Q, 620V, 5.0AWA (only took once)
Math Courses: Standard undergraduate courses including Real Analysis and Topology. Two A’s in Real Analysis
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Standard undergraduate program with quantitative emphasis
Other Courses: Some science related to resource and environmental econ
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors and 1 math professor. I had small classes and they know me so I expect that the recommendations are good
Research Experience: Paid summer science intern in mathematics researching a topic related to econometrics. Currently performing honors research applying econometrics to a resource issue
Teaching Experience: None
Other: Officer/Member of four honor societies. Partially self supporting as Head Resident of a medium sized dorm
Research Interests: Applied economics, resource and environmental issues
Statement of purpose: I applied to a small number of schools (only ones I would happily attend if accepted). I used my research in finding these schools to write a statement relating their programs to my interests
Concerns: Few. I feel prepared and am comfortable with the programs to which I’ve applied.
In: NC State Econ(no$), Ohio State ARE($$$+), Miami U (Florida) Econ ($$$+), Maryland ARE ($$$)
Out: Duke Econ
Waiting: Florida International Econ, Georgetown Econ, UNC Regional Planning.
Accepts:
  • Institution:Ohio State Environmental and Resource Economics Decision:Admit Funding: TBD. Notification date:Today Notified through:website/letter (dated Feb 4)
  • Institution:NC State Economics Decision:Admit Funding: TBD. Notification date:Today Notified through:Email
  • Institution: Maryland Resource and Environmental Economics Decision: Admitted Notification date: March 12 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:Graduate Assistantship+Tuition+Health
  • Institution: Miami of Florida Economics Decision: Admitted Notification date: Late Feb Notified through: Email/phone Posted on GF: No Comments: Fellowship
  • Institution: Ohio State Resource and Environmental Economics Decision: Admitted Notification date: Late Feb Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Proposed for two Fellowships
  • Institution: NC State Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: March 12 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Wait listed for funding
  • Institution: Ohio State Resource and Environmental Economics Decision: Admitted Notification date: Late Feb (admission), 3/15 (Fellowship) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: University Fellowship
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: Late Feb Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments:
Waitlists:

Gecko 2010: Roll Call Fall 2010 
For all applicants gunning for the 2010 Fall admissions :D
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Econ from university in Southeast Asia
Undergrad GPA: 3.75/4
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 790Q, 500V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Real Analysis I and II, III (in progress) , Linear Algebra Math for Economists, Measure Theory (in progress), Mixture of A and B
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro (B+)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): IO, Development, Econometrics, Monetary, Labour, Information Economics Game Theory, Micro and Macro Theory- All A's and A+
Other Courses: Irrelevant.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (1 Princeton PhD, 1 Columbia PhD) 3rd one pending
Research Experience: Except for term papers and thesis, none.
Teaching Experience: Intermediate Micro, Introduction to statistical theory, developmental economics
Research Interests: Institutional economics and decisions making under uncertainty.
SOP: Standard format - refer to a thread by Italos.
Concerns: My math sucks.
Other: Praying awfully hard.
Applying to: MIT, Princeton, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford, Berkeley, Michigan, NYU, Columbia, Maryland, WUSTL, and others.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) Economics M2 Decision: Accepted Funding: waiting for Eiffel Scholarships - March 22 Notification date: December 18 Notified through: email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) NO Comments: Why does it take so long for the Eiffel committee to decide~
  • Institution: LSE Economics, MSc (Res). Decision: Accepted Funding: Zilch Notification date: February 5, 2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on Gradcafe: no Date of Gradcafe post: N/A Comments: not gonna accept unfunded offers.
  • Institution:Kellogg MEDS Decision: Acceptance Notification date: 2/17 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Funding: 30K
Rejects:
  • Institution: LSE MRes+PhD (Track 1) Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 4 February Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) n/a Comments: haha, should have tried oxbridge too.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Ph.D Decision: Rejected Funding: N.A. Notificationn date: 02/17 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Comments: Still buzzing after my interview with Kellogg.
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No
  • Institution: Wisconsin-Madison Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No
  • Institution:Minnesota Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Kellogg sets my mind at ease~
  • Institution: Rochester Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03-01-2010 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no Comments: Que Sera Sera
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Well :) Its a weird season~
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Haha, its a weird season I'd say.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Thank god for Kellogg ~ phew.
  • Institution: Rochester Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03-01-2010 Notified through: email Posted on GF: no Comments: Que Sera Sera
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Well Its a weird season~
  • Institution: University of Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/3 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Haha, its a weird season I'd say.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Email to check website Comments: Thank god for Kellogg ~ phew.
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N.A. Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comment: Long shot. Oh well.
  • Institution: Stanford, MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: no Comments: Its time to be a Wildcat D:
  • Institution:UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GC: no Comments: Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Emailed Marjorie Lesser Posted on GC: No Comments: Hope I can teach at Stern next time
  • Institution: Washington U - St Louis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 04/05/2010 Notified through: Mass Email Posted on GC: No Comment: No need to choose between Kellogg and Wustl.
Waitlists:

penndryve 2010: Type of Undergrad: Bachelors in Computer Engineering (India - not IIT or REC, but fairly good)
Undergrad GPA: 84% (we don't have GPA. This is called Distinction, and would fall in the top 3-4 0n the class)
Type of Grad: MSc Development Studies (London School of Economics)
Grad GPA: Distinction (Prize for Best Performance in the Department )
Further Grad: EXTERNAL Diploma for Graduates ( Economics) - London School of Economics - ONGOING - Exams in May/June 2010
GRE: Not taken yet. Expect to score 790-800Q and high-700s in verbal
Math Courses: Lots of calculus, probability and statistical courses in under-grad, basically Engineering Mathematics ( nearly 90% (A+) in all of them). Taking modules on Mathematics again in my current diploma from LSE - refreshing all the Math required for Econ ( but it does not cover Real Analysis)
Econ Courses: Managerial Economics ( undergrad, A+), Development Economics (A), Intermediate Micro, Macro and Econometrics ( currently taking in my Diploma), Some international economics as part of Intl. Political Economy of Development at LSE ( A+)
Other Courses: Lots of Political Economy/Development courses; MIT Randomization Course
Letters of Recommendation: Three Profs from LSE: Two of them are Political Economy Profs (One is Princeton-Harvard-LSE, the other is Leontif Prize Winner, but considered heterodox); Third one is not economics, but very well regarded.
Research Experience: Working as Senior Research Analyst at a premier think tank in Delhi, policy research on governance and institutional development; currently doing a qualitative research study involving field work - will publish paper soon
Publications: Grad thesis published by LSE as LSE Working Paper; Two WPs at my current job plus one coming up soon.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Development Economics; Institutional Economics; Political Economy
SOP: Not written yet; thinking of talking about the progression in my intellectual/career interests and why I want to do PhD from an Econ dept at this stage etc
Concerns: BIG one: Not enough Econ? My Intermediate Economics grades will not be available at the time of application ( won't be available till July/August 2010, actually!!). Although I am sure I will do well in them, I have only my word + previous academic performance to show for it!
Other: Work experience in the development sector for about 5 years doing part time volunteering with grass roots NGOs + nearly 2 years working as consultant in an IT multinational. And I simply cannot do without funding! :(
Applying to: Berkeley, Yale, MIT, Harvard, Chicago, Cornell, Stanford, Princeton, UCLA, NYU, Columbia, UPenn, Duke, Brown, NW, Maryland, Michigan, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, LSE, Cambridge
Suggestions please on if I stand any reasonable chance of being accepted WITH funding! :)
Accepts:
  • Institution: LSE Economics (MSc (Res)) Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 19th January Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) Yes Comments: Scraping around funding!
Rejects:
  • Institution:Cornell Econ Decision:Reject Funding: N/A Notification date:4th Feb 2010 Notified through:email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) 4th feb
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 18 February, 2010 Notified through: email to check website Comments:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 02/18 Notified Through: E-mail to check website
Waitlists:

Gravy924 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: UCSB, Top 100 overall, higher in certain subdisciplines according to Econphd
Undergrad GPA:3.55 ish, 3.65 in Economics which was top 3 in the major (around 40 students) Dont know if I was 1, 2, or 3 because it was a certificate with generic title, but lets just say 3rd.
Type of Grad: None
Grad GPA: None
GRE: Have not taken yet, but I believe I can get 750 or above Q, 600 or above Verbal
Math Courses: At UCSB, Calc 3C (Intro Diff Equations/Linear Algebra) D+, Retook for B-. PSTAT 5E, A+, PSTAT 120A, B-.
As Post Bac: Intro to Proofs, A, Calc III (Multivariable, Vector Calc, etc) A, Probability and Statistics (Basically the same as 120A at SB) A, In Fall will take Analysis I, Linear Algebra (proof based) and Diff Equations.
Econ Courses: All the basics, Intermediate Micro (A, A-, B), Intermediate Macro, A, Monetary, A, Econometrics (A, B). More electives as B+'s or A's,
Other Courses:
Letters of Recommendation: 1 from a Math Prof, did well in his class (Phd from UCSD) 1 from a Econ Prof (Phd from MIT) I am doing research for, and Poli Sci Prof who knows me well (2 quarter class with just another student and myself), Cited often in Poli Sci journals. (not sure if that matters)
Research Experience: None really, did a paper on Market Failure while studying abroad in the Netherlands, was much more anecdotal than theoretical or statistical. Also, have been an RA for Econ Prof mentioned above. More just gathering data.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: International Finance, Monetary, Macro etc.
s. Do not plan on entering academia right away, thinking of World Bank, IMF, Bank International Settlements jobs etc.
As of right now I am applying to the following programs:
MA: USanFran, UBC, Queens, UWO, Toronto, Bocconi, UPF,
PhD: Georgetown, UCSC, UCLA (maybe my name will get put on someone elses app =)), UCI, Maryland, UVA, Wisconson, USC
Starting to think about George Washington (prob no funding), NYU, Columbia (prob no admit)
UCSC is by far my top choice.
Good luck everyone.
Accepts:
  • Institution: UCSC International Economics Decision: Accept Notification date: 2/25/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes. Comments: First year funding mentioned in email, 2 quarters fellowship, one quarter TA. Dunno about future years. STOKED
  • Institution: UCSC International Economics Decision: Accept Notification date: 2/25/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes. Comments: First year funding mentioned in email, 2 quarters fellowship, one quarter TA. Dunno about future years. STOKED
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Phd Decision: Rejected Funding: Yeah, they are actually paying me NOT to go. Notification Date: Feb 12 Notified: email said to check online. Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments: Those aren't tears! Ive just been cutting onions, Im making a lasagna. All times are GMT. The time now is 04:57 PM. Page 3 of 5 < 12 3 45 > Show 30 post(s) from this thread on one page
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 2/16/10 (I think) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comments: Was sad, then saw people who had WAY better profiles than me get rejected, and realized I probably had no business applying.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Comments: I blame my LOR writer for telling me not to include head shots. I even had a picture of me reading MWG with a caption that says "Phd Micro...Easy"
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 2/16/10 (I think) Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comments: Was sad, then saw people who had WAY better profiles than me get rejected, and realized I probably had no business applying.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Comments: I blame my letter of recommendation writer for telling me not to include head shots. I even had a picture of me reading MWG with a caption that says "Phd Micro...Easy"
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: Email at 1:00am Posted on GC: no Comments: meh
Waitlists:

walt526 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Political Science from UC Davis (started at a well-regarded LAC in the Midwest)
Undergrad GPA: 3.50/4.00 (combined)
Type of Grad: MA in Economics from lower-tier public university
Grad GPA: 3.92
GRE: 800Q, 600V, 6.0AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-III (high school with AP, plus C from Fall 1998), Linear Algebra (A), Intro to Statistics (A), Math for Economists (A), Intro to Formal Math (A-), Numerical Analysis (A), Axiomatic Set Theory (B+), Real Analysis (in process), Mathematical Statistics MA-Level (in process), Operations Research (Spring 2010), Applied Linear Algebra (Spring 2010)
Econ Courses (MA-level): Advanced Micro Theory (A-), Advanced Macro Theory (A), US Economic History (A), Cost-Benefit Analysis (A), Applied Econometric Analysis (in process), Econometric Theory (in process)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro to Economics (B+ from spring 2000), Intermediate Micro (A+), Intermediate Macro (D), Public Microeconomic Theory (A+), Economics of Development (A-), US Economic History (A-), World Economic History (A), Economics of Education (A), Econometrics (A), History of Economic Thought (Spring 2010)
Political Science Courses:
- High School: AP American Government, AP Comparative Government
- LAC: International Relations (A-), American Political Thought (B+), Central European Politics (A), Russian Politics (A-), Soviet and Russian Foreign Policy (A)
- UC Davis: Systematic Political Science (A-), The Legislative Process (A-), The Politics of Interdependence (A-), National Security Policy (A), Intro to Judicial Politics (A), Judicial Politics: First Amendment (A), Judicial Politics: Equality (A-), Seminar in American Political Behavior (A+)
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (1 WUSTL, 1 UC Davis ARE, 1 Stanford)
Research Experience:
- Research assistant to LAC political science professor (developing new course in environmental international politics)
- Research assistant to UC Davis political science professor (judicial politics--read a sample Supreme Court decisions and classified the argument type of each paragraph)
- Masters Thesis: Does State Support for Public Four-Year Universities Decrease as Minority Enrollment Increases?
Teaching Experience: TA to Intermediate Micro
Research Interests: My research interests lie along the intersection of political science and economics. I am interested in Public Choice (Law and Economics and Institutional Factors), Industrial Organization, and Miscellaneous Applied Microecomics
Statement of Purpose: Should be strong
Concerns: The D in Intermediate Macro came in a semester wherein I received incompletes in my other courses (personal issues) in winter quarter of 2004). I completed the two lower-division courses that I needed to fulfill the BA in Political Science at community college (statistics and history of western civilization). No topology, possibly weak advanced math grades.
Other: Have a career certificate in Accounting from a community college, worked for 2 years as an accounting administrator and 3 years as a purchasing agent for an electrical contractor.
Applying to: UC Berkeley, Northwestern, Stanford, Michigan, UPenn Wharton (Applied Econ), WUSTL, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, Texas, UIUC, Maryland, Virginia, UC Davis, George Mason, Vanderbilt, Rochester, Michigan State, Georgetown, UC Irvine, UMass-Amherst, Arizona, Colorado, Syracuse, Kentucky (might whittle down the list some)
Accepts:
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics/Economics of Education Decision: Accepted ($$$) Notification date: 2/21/10 Notified through: Personal email from co-directors of the Economics of Education program (have not heard officially from Economics Department yet) Posted on GF: No. Comments: I am beyond delighted. MSU is a perfect fit for my interests and the funding (mostly coming from a US Department of Education grant) is unrivaled by pretty much any place other than Yale. Hoping to attend a flyout sometime in March.
  • Institution: UC Irvine Economics-Public Choice Decision: Acceptance ($$) Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: I'll probably decline in favor of the Michigan State offer. But UC Irvine is a great place for public choice (and Southern CA is a nicer place to spend 4-5 years than Central MI).
  • Institution: Michigan State University Economics/Economics of Education Decision: Accepted ($$$) Notification date: 2/21/10 Notified through: Personal email from co-directors of the Economics of Education program (have not heard officially from Economics Department yet) Posted on GF: No. Comments: I am beyond delighted. MSU is a perfect fit for my interests and the funding (mostly coming from a US Department of Education grant) is unrivaled by pretty much any place other than Yale. Hoping to attend a flyout sometime in March.
  • Institution: UC Irvine Economics-Public Choice Decision: Acceptance ($$) Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: I'll probably decline in favor of the Michigan State offer. But UC Irvine is a great place for public choice (and Southern CA is a nicer place to spend 4-5 years than Central MI).
  • Institution: University of Colorado-Boulder Economics Decision: Accepted ($$) Notification date: 3/10/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comments: One of my safeties, I will most likely decline in favor of MSU.
  • Institution: U Arizona Economics Decision: Admit Funding: No first year funding Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: I don't see an unfunded offer from U Arizona as worth considering. And I'd probably prefer MSU or UCI to U Arizona even if it the latter were funded.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/16 Notified Through: Email Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: First official response, so I'm a little disappointed--not exactly surprising, as I figured that I was a long-shot. My wife really didn't want to live in North Carolina, so she'll be relieved.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 2/16/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: Disappointed, but not surprised. I knew if was a reach.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 2/25/10 Notified through: Website (did not receive an email to check) Posted on GF: No. Comments: Not surprised, but disappointed.
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: I am aware that this may sound like sour grapes, but I only applied there because the application was free. My interest in the school was pretty minimal (I prefer MSU to Rochester).
  • Institution: U Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: This one stings a little, but not entirely unexpected.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Of all the rejects so far, this was the toughest--even though it was anticipated.
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: If it weren't for geography, then I probably wouldn't have even applied to UC Davis. But I'm still a little surprised and annoyed, considering it was my alma mater.
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 2/16/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No Comments: Disappointed, but not surprised. I knew if was a reach.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 2/25/10 Notified through: Website (did not receive an email to check) Posted on GF: No. Comments: Not surprised, but disappointed.
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: I am aware that this may sound like sour grapes, but I only applied there because the application was free. My interest in the school was pretty minimal (I prefer MSU to Rochester).
  • Institution: U Michigan Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: This one stings a little, but not entirely unexpected.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Of all the rejects so far, this was the toughest--even though it was anticipated.
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: If it weren't for geography, then I probably wouldn't have even applied to UC Davis. But I'm still a little surprised and annoyed, considering it was my alma mater.
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/10/10 Notified through: Postal Mail Posted on GC: No Comment: As expected.
  • Institution: Johns Hopkins Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: email Comments: As expected. Only surprised that it took them this long.
  • Institution: George Mason Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/15/10 Notified through: Postal letter. Comments: A little surprised that I didn't get at least a non-funded offer, but oh well. This was a school that I was on the fence about applying to. I prefer all three of my other offers to GMU anyway.
  • Institution: U Illinois-Urbana Phd Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/17/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: Disappointed, but not surprised. MSU is looking more and more likely.
  • Institution: Caltech Social Science Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Assumed rejection about a month ago.
  • Institution: Wharton (U Pennsylvania) Applied Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/19/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Not surprised, pretty much knew that this was a non-starter. Only applied because it looked interesting and thought that a business school might look at my application a little differently than traditional Economics departments.
  • Institution: U Maryland Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: E-mail to Check Website Posted on GC: No Comments: Assumed as much over a week ago.
  • Institution: U Virginia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/22/10 Notified through: Randomly checked the website Posted on GC: No Comments: Not really surprised given that I hadn't heard anything for so long.
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/25/10 Notified through: Email Comments: Only surprised that it took them this long...
  • Institution: U Texas-Austin Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/25/10 Notified through: Email Comments:
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/29/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: This was one of the schools that I was considering withdrawing my application from. Like Rochester, I might not have applied had there been an application fee (also their L&E made them a better fit). But alas, unfortunately they didn't receive my UCD transcripts, so I had to resend them rush back in early February for ~$50 (a few days before I had heard from MSU), so it's almost like I did have to pay a fee... but I digress.
  • Institution: Washington U - St Louis Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 04/05/2010 Notified through: Mass Email Posted on GC: No Comment: Glad to finally know definitively that my choices are between MSU and UCI, but still a little disappointed. When I went back to earn my MA two years ago, I did so in the hopes of winding up at WUSTL. But I think how my interests have evolved over the past two years as well as a better sense of what type of environment I need to be successful, MSU is probably a better fit even if WUSTL's placements are better.
Waitlists:

yougotaparabola 2010: PROFILE:
type of undergrad: B.A. Econ top 10 public university, no grad econ
undergrad GPA: 3.69/4, econ 3.95, math 3.74
type of grad: NA
grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800Q, 650V, 5.0AWA
math courses: Calc 3 (A-), ODE (A), Linear Algebra (A-), Probability Theory (B+), Real Analysis I (A), Game Theory (A-)(through the math department)
econ courses (undergrad-level): intermediate micro, advanced micro (economics of incentives), intermediate macro, advanced macro (international finance), econometrics, time series econometrics, mathematical economics (all A)
econ courses (grad-level): sadly, none.
other courses: Irrelevant.
letters of recommendation: 3 econ professors
research experience: Minimal.
teaching experience: None
research interests: The role of micro incentives in development.
statement of purpose: Pretty standard, nothing substantial.
other: on the bright side you really only need one admit.
concerns: Potentially weak recommendations, no idea how I stack up against the competition, no idea how my undergrad will be perceived,
applying to: Princeton, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford, Berkeley, Michigan, NYU, Columbia, Maryland, WUSTL, Rochester, UCLA, UVA, Duke, Wisconsin, BU, BC, etc....
Accepts:
  • Institution: BC Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 16k Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: Yep Comments: Relieved
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for fellowship? Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: A solid admit for me, I'm excited.
  • Institution: BC Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 16k Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: Yep Comments: Relieved
  • Institution: Rochester Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: Waitlisted for fellowship? Notification date: 3/1 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: A solid admit for me, I'm excited.
  • Institution: Texas (Austin) Economics Decision: Admitted Funding: Waitlisted for TAship Notification date: 3/10/2010 Notified through: Unofficial Email Posted on GC: Nope Comments: Pretty jazzed, curious what the likelihood of getting a TAship is.
  • Institution: UVA Economics PhD Decision: Admit Funding: No information on the letter Notification date: 03/24 Notified through: randomly checked website Comments: Nice to have another option
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: rejected Funding: no Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: website Posted on grad cafe: No
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejection Funding: Notification date: forget Notified through: email Posted on grad cafe: No
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: They really made me wait this one out.
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No.
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Nope Comments: Mass email.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4/10 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GF: Yes Comment: Expected
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: They really made me wait this one out.
  • Institution: Michigan Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No.
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Nope Comments: Mass email.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/4/10 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GF: Yes Comment: Expected
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 03/09/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email. Posted on GC: no
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: Email to Check Website Posted on GC: no Comments: a little sad
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email (check website)
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notified through: Email Notification date: 3/16/10 Comments: Response to email for an update.
  • Institution: Wharton Applied Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/19/2010 Notified through: E-mail telling me to check the website Comments: Was doubtful after the interview.
  • Institution: UCSD Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:

Speaker 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Labor Econ from top 20 Econ Program
Undergrad GPA: 3.58/4
Type of Grad: B.S. Labor Econ same school
Grad GPA: 3.17
GRE: 780Q, 550V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-III (A-, A-, A+), Real Analysis (B-) , Linear Algebra (A), Ord. Diff. Eq (A)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro Theory I (B), Micro Theory II (in progress)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro Micro/Macro (A, A), Inter Micro/Macro (B+, A), Econ Develoment (A-), Public Finance (A-), Developing Country Labor Markets (A-), Income Distribution (A), Applied Econometrics (A-)
Other Courses: n/a
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors (1 Michigan PhD-good LOR, 1 Harvard PhD- ok LOR) 1 math professor (LSU PhD - ok LOR)
Research Experience: Term paper & current Masters Thesis
Teaching Experience: English teacher in the Peace Corps
Research Interests: Development and Political Economy
Statement of purpose: Decently well-written. Probably won't blow anyone away.
Concerns: Micro Theory & Analysis grades (although adcoms won't see unless they request fall grades), generally weak math background, little/no research projects
Other: keeping my fingers crossed.
Applying to: UCLA, USC, BU, BC, CUNY, NYU, Columbia, Fordham, Northwestern, UI-Chicago, UNC, Duke, GWU, Georgetown, Maryland, American, Colorado, Wisconsin, Emory, Notre Dame, Michigan, Washington, Texas, Minnesota
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Notification date: 17 February, 2010 Notified through: email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) Comments:
Waitlists:

mariobross 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.S. Civil Engineering. (Latin America)
Undergrad GPA: 3.57/4
Type of Grad: M.A International Development (Concentration in Dev Economics)
Grad GPA: 3.68/4
GRE: 770Q, 450V, 3.5AWA
Math Courses (Undergrad): Calculus I-III (B+, A-, A-), Real Analysis (A-) , Algebra I (B+) , Linear Algebra (A-), Diff. Eq (A-)
Econ Courses (Graduate): Micro (B+), Macro (A-), Econ Theory (A), Econ Dev (A), Household Econ (A-), Intro Econometrics (B+), App Econometrics (A), Advanced Econometrics (A)
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors (PhD Columbia, PhD Brandeis) and my Supervisor (PhD Harvard).
Research Experience: 2 years as RA in grad school, master's thesis, Research Fellow at the World Bank and IADB (3 years)
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Development Economics and International Trade
Applying to: Maryland(Econ), Maryland (PubPol), Georgetown (Econ), Chicago (Econ), Chicago (PubPol), Brandeis(Econ), Duke (PubPol), Harvard (PubPol), Oxford (Econ), Pompeu (Econ), Columbia (SIPA)
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Public Policy (Econ concentration) Decision: Rejected Notification date: 17 February, 2010 Notified through: email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: no Date of Gradcafe post: Comments: One less, nine more to go... ;)
  • Institution: University of Virginia Economics PHD Decision: REJECTED Funding: ??? Notificationn date: 02/17 Notified through: Website Posted on Gradcafe: No Comments:
  • Institution: Duke PP Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: none Notification date: Feb15 Notified through: email Posted on GF: Comments:
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: none Notification date: Feb 20 Notified through: letter Posted on GF: Comments:
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: none Notification date: Feb 20 Notified through: letter Posted on GF: Comments:
Waitlists:

13_ 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Economics (South East Asia)
Undergrad GPA: 56/100
Type of Grad: MS Economics (South East Asia), one of the best institutes in my country
Grad GPA: 70/100
GRE: 800Q, 540V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses: Real Analysis, Linear Algebra, Calculus I & II, Statistics I & II, Bit of stochastic processes.
Econ Courses: Microeconomics I and II, Macroeconomics I & II, Econometrics I & II, Public Finance, Game Theory I & II, Industrial Organisation, Social Choice Theory, Modern Growth Theory.
Other Courses: None.
Letters of Recommendation: 3 Economics Professors. 1 well known, most probably the LoR's would be good.
Research Experience: Except for term papers and thesis, none.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Game Theory, Econometrics.
Statement of Purpose: Pretty ordinary!
Concerns: Gap of a couple of years.
Applying to: Michigan, Duke, Carnegie Mellon, Brown, Penn State, Santa Barbara, Irvine, Iowa - Tippie, Arizona State, Rochester, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email alerting online decision Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes
  • Institution: UCSB Economics Ph.D. Decision: Rejected Notification date: February 16th Notified through: Website Posted on Gradcafe: No
Waitlists:

Buster 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. Econ, top 15 US Econ institution
Undergrad GPA: 3.2/4
Type of Grad: Public Policy Master's, Same school
Grad GPA: 3.85/4
GRE: 780Q, 550V, 4.5AWA
Math Courses: Calc I, II, III (B,B,D), Diff Eq (B-), Finite (A-), Linear Alg (A), Real Analysis (B+)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro (A), Econometrics I, II (A, Pass), Institutional (A-)
Econ Courses (Ma-level): Micro (A), Macro (A), Econometrics I, II (A,A), Trade (A)
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): A lot, mostly A's
Letters of Recommendation: 2 econ professors (1 Harvard PhD well known, co-authored a paper, 1 Purdue PhD, Econometrics Prof) Current Supervisor (Chief Economist, Rochester PhD)
Research Experience: Graduate RA for well known Econ Prof. RA 2 years at U.S. central bank.
Teaching Experience: Tutoring Econ/Math/Stats
Research Interests: International Macro, Monetary Econ
Applying to: Berkeley, UCSD, UCLA, Santa Cruz, USC, Santa Barbara, UC-Davis, University of Washington, BC, BU, Duke, UNC
Accepts:
  • Institution: Santa Barbara Economics Ph.D. Decision: Accepted Funding: no word Notification date: February 16th Notified through: Website Posted on Gradcafe: No Comments: First response I've gotten from any school, glad it was good news!!
  • Institution: UC-Santa Barbara Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Decision in March Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: First news is good news.
  • Institution: UC-Santa Cruz Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Doesn't look like it Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: 9 left!
  • Institution: UC-Santa Cruz Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: Doesn't look like it Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: 9 left!
  • Institution: Boston University Economics Decision: Admit Funding: Waitlist Notification date: 3/24/10 Notified through: Email Comments: This was a surprise... I thought they were done.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Notification date: 17 February, 2010 Notified through: email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Date of Gradcafe post: (if yes) Comments: That's disappointing.... 1 for 2 so far with 10 left.
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: --- Notification date: 2/17 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Second response not as good.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: That was my Hail Mary... guess it was intercepted.
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email/Website Posted on GC: NO Comments: That one burns a little.... thought I had a good shot.
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: That was my Hail Mary... guess it was intercepted.
  • Institution: UC Davis Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email/Website Posted on GC: NO Comments: That one burns a little.... thought I had a good shot.
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/17 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: figured as much...
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/22/10 Notified through: Email Comments: Not a surprise
Waitlists:
  • Institution: UNC-CH Economics Decision: Waitlist Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/24/10 Notified through: Email Comments: Seems like a long waitlist

golden_bears 2010: Type of Undergrad: B.A. Double Major: Economics & Applied Mathematics from, well, the best public research university in the world (as we say here) :), also a junior transfer from community coolege
Undergrad GPA: 3.45/4.00 (UC GPA), 3.95/4.00 (Community College GPA), 3.74 Cumulative GPA
Type of Grad: A summer course at LSE that could be considered a grad course
Grad GPA: 4.00
GRE: 790Q, 540V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Calculus I-III (A), UG Real Analysis, Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, etc...
Econ Courses (Undergrad-level): Mostly took macro and econ history courses.
Statistics Courses: Probability (IP), Computing Stats (for the statistical package R), not much here really
Letters of Recommendation: 3, 1 of which was submitted today; Two have the potential to be very strong and one neutral or slightly positive at best. I doubt any would be negative -- my gpa does enough for that.
Research/Teaching Experience:
1. Created, developed, and taught a course here. In its fourth semester. Wrote a paper for my faculty sponsor/LoR provider (non-Econ department)
2. Doing my honors thesis right now (LoR provider - Econ department)
Teaching Experience:
1. Self-taught course -- see above.
Research Interests: Political Economy of NE Asia, Developmental, Transitional Economics
Statement of purpose: Picked a topic I was interested in
Diversity Statement: Mostly my background, but focus was still on what I wanted to do.
Concerns: Haha, where should i begin? :crazy:
-Nontraditional student
My professor and LoR provider said, "You know, ..., it'll be interesting to see where you get into considering your background." I think he was thinking out loud, but, I guess that sums up my concerns. He also said, "You'll get in somewhere."
Applying to: UCLA, UCSD, Northwestern, Harvard (yep, lol), Yale, Columbia, Chicago, NYU, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Virginia, Caltech, UC Davis, Duke, Johns Hokpins, Maryland... all econ ph.d (i'm just hoping they all have my material)...
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics, PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: ... Notificationn date: 16th Feb Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: -- Notification date: 18 February 2010 Notified Through: E-mail Posted on Grad Cafe: No
  • Institution: University of Minnesota, University of Chicago economics Decision: Rejected/Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/05 [UM: was dated 03/04 on website] Notified through: Email to check site, Rejection Email Comment: flyout april 2nd[/quote]
Waitlists:

devtron 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A Econ/BS Commerce, top 25 university
Undergrad GPA: 3.80/4
Type of Grad: Math, non-degree
Grad GPA: 4/4
GRE: 800Q, 690V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: Undergrad: Multivar. Calc (A-), Intro Analysis (A), Diff EQ (A), Linear Algebra (B+); Grad: Real Analysis II (A), Advanced Linear Algebra (A), Math Stat I (A) and II (In progress), Stochastic Processes (In progress)
Econ Courses (PhD-level): NA
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro/Macro, Corporate Finance, Econ of Advertising (A-), Econ of China, Econometrics, International Trade - All A's and A+'s, except advertising
Other Courses: a lot of business/finance courses, probably only marginally helpful
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ phd's, 1 econ professor, 1 math professor
Research Experience: 2 years at a federal reserve bank as an RA, 2 publications in an internally reviewed journal
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: macro and IO
statement of purpose: Pretty standard, made some changes for each school to talk about whose research I am interested in... I talked mostly about my experience, in more detail than elsewhere on the application - only briefly about my future plans
Concerns: no graduate econ, could have taken more math.
Applying to: UVA, Duke, UPenn, Minnesota, Wisconsin-Madison, NYU, Northwestern, Princeton, BU, BC, OSU, Wash U in St. Louis, Georgetown, Penn State, ASU, Maryland
Accepts:
  • Institution: Arizona State Economics Decision: accepted Funding: no word Notification date: 11 February Notified through: just checked the my.asu site - no e-mail yet on funding Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments:
  • Institution: Ohio State Economics Decision: accepted Funding: no word Notification date: Very early February on the site, February 10th received a letter Notified through: online and then a follow up hard copy letter Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments:
  • Institution: Minnesota Economics Decision: accepted Funding: nominated for fellowship Notification date: January 26 Notified through: email Posted on Gradcafe: no Comments:
  • Institution: Virginia Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ?? Notification date: Feb. 19 Notified Through: Email to find letter on website Posted on Grad Cafe: No
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18.5k for 5 years Notification date: 19 Feb Notified Through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: No
  • Institution: UPenn Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: "Very High Waitlist" Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 02/27/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments: no funding = reject for me
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Econ PhD Decision: rejected Funding: n/a Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email alerting me that the decision was on the application website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: n/a Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments: reject = reject for me
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: n/a Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: no Comments: reject = reject for me
  • Institution: Princeton Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/9 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: PSU Econ Phd Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/12/2010 Notified through: Email.
  • Institution: NYU Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: nada Notification date: 3/16/2010 Notified through: e-mail, after having inquired with the grad secretary Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:

far 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A. in Econ and Math, History minor from a large public university
Undergrad GPA: 3.71/4.0 Econ: 4.0/4.0 Math: 4.0/4.0
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800Q, 620V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: A lot
Econ Courses (PhD-level): None
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Econometrics, Economic Stats, Game Theory, IO, Intermediate Micro, Intermediate Macro, International Macro, Principles
Other Courses: Intro to programming
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Econ professors (1 very well known senior the other a tenure track, both should be excellent) and 1 Math professor
Research Experience: Two years RA-ing for well known recommender, Econ REU internship (other econ recommender was my mentor)
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Industrial Organization, Game Theory, Environmental Economics
Statement of Purpose: General template modified for each school. Talked about my background and interests, reasons for applying, mentioned specific faulty members
Concerns: 3rd recommendation probably isn't that good.
Other: None
Applying to: Arizona, Berkeley, Columbia, Duke, Harvard, Maryland, Northwestern, Penn State, Stanford, UCLA, UCSB, UCSD, Yale
Accepts:
  • Institution: UCSB Econ Decision: Accepted Notification date: 17 February, 2010 Notified through: website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no Comments: They flew me out there last month so if they had rejected me the world would be wayyyy too screwy :)
  • Institution: Penn State University Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 25k/year Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: email Posted on GF: No Comments: :)
  • Institution: Northwestern University Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: waitlist first year, 21k thereafter Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: so happy I cant stop smiling! :)
  • Institution: Penn State University Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: 25k/year Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: email Posted on GF: No Comments:
  • Institution: Northwestern University Phd Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: waitlist first year, 21k thereafter Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: email Posted on GF: Yes Comments: so happy I cant stop smiling!
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: email next week Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: chilly Chicago or sunny San Diego...
  • Institution: Arizona Economics Decision: Accepted (informally) Funding: Assistantship Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Email from Dr Fishback (I work for him) asking if I'd want to stick around and offering an assistantship but recommending I don't
  • Institution: UCLA Economics Decision: Accepted Notified through: e-mail Funding: no first year funding. Notification date: 3/16/10 Posted on GC: No Comments: I'm so happy I have a tough decision ahead of me, it's been a tough season for everyone and I just feel really thankful right now
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 2/16 Notified Through: Email Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: First official decision, a little bit surprised -.-
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 2/18 Notified Through: Email to check site Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: :(
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: na Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Email to check website
  • Institution: Berkeley Economics, PhD Decision: Reject Funding: Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: na Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Email to check website
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: can't wait for this to all be over -.-
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
Waitlists:

irrational_exp 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: Econ/Spanish major, Math Minor from a top 5-10 Midwestern liberal arts college.
Undergrad GPA: 3.73
GRE: 760Q 490V 6.0AWA (Apparently I can write but still can't read)
Math Courses: Calc I-II-III (A,B+,A), Linear Algebra (B+), Statistics (A), Discrete Math (B), Real Analysis (Now),
Econ Courses: Principles Micro/Macro (A-,A), Intermediate Micro (A) Intermediate Macro (A), Econometrics (A), Econ of Developing Countries (A), Taken at UCM Madrid (in Spanish): Econ of European Union (B+), Political Economy of Ibero-American Relations (A), International Finance? (A)
Other Courses: Did well in my Nietzsche course,
Letters of Recommendation: 3 Econ. professors, Brown, UIC, NC State. Published in AER but the strength of the the letters is that they know me, not that they are published.
Research Experience: Sr Yr research scholarship on non-profit firms, especially universities, Fed challenge, does that count?
Awards: Economics board trustee scholarship.
Research Interests: Development, behavioral, health
Statement of Purpose: I think it was good but everybody else thinks similiarly. Mentioned my research interests.
Other: 760 GREq yuck. Consistant 800's on practice. 490 V doesn't look good for a native speaker either. Would like Real Analysis and ODE on transcript.
Applying to: East Coast: NYU, Columbia, Brown, JHU, BU <-Yeah right BC Duke UNC-CH, New School, American, Gtown, GW, Buffalo (home), Rochester, Temple, Clemson, Fordham
Yay (so far): Temple
Nay: Duke
Accepts:
  • Institution: Temple Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: ? Notification date: 4 February Notified through: Mail, to my parents house for some reason Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) Never heard of it Comments: Won't have to sell my soul and get a job yet
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Denied Funding: 9,000 Vietnamese Dong/yr (rounded to the nearest U.S. dollar) Notificationn date: 16th February Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) No Comments: They must not be accepting students this year ;)
Waitlists:

sjmm 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA math and econ
Undergrad GPA: 3.9/4
Type of Grad: ND, gpa 3.9/4
GRE: 780Q, 610V, 5.0AWA
Math Courses: calc 1+2, linear, vector, diffeq, pde, topology, real analysis 1+2, algebra 1+2, game theory
Econ Courses: micro, macro, international, development, econometrics, math econ
Other Courses: politics
Letters of Recommendation: 1 econ, 1 politics, 1 math
Research Experience: REU
Teaching Experience: TA throughout undergrad
Statement of Purpose: Standard
Concerns: total lack of research
Applying to: CSU, NCSU, Duke, Cornell, Columbia, JHU, Brown, Georgetown, Drexel, AU, UMD
Accepts:
  • Institution: NCSU, Duke, Drexel Economics PhD Decision: Accepted, Rejected, Accepted Funding: Waiting, n/a, $ Notification date: Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 16 Notified through: email to check website, email to check website, email from director Posted on grad cafe: no Comments: Need funding to attend, Sad, Expected
  • Institution: NCSU, Duke, Drexel Economics PhD Decision: Accepted, Rejected, Accepted Funding: Waiting, n/a, $ Notification date: Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 16 Notified through: email to check website, email to check website, email from director Posted on grad cafe: no Comments: Need funding to attend, Sad, Expected
  • Institution: American University Econ Decision: Accepted Funding: yes Notified through: Phone Date: 3/5
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/16 Notified Through: E-mail Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: Sad
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: denied.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Website Comments: glad we made it official
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: denied.
  • Institution: Columbia Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/04 Notified through: Website Comments: glad we made it official
  • Institution: JHU Econ PHd Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/12/10 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No
  • Institution: Brown Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: Notification date: 3/16 Notified through: Email (check website)
Waitlists:

C.C 2010:
Institution: Duke,Yale
Program: Econ
Decision: Rejection
Notification date: 2/16,2/18(maybe)
Notified through: Email to check website
Posted on GF: No
Institution:Cornell
Program: Econ
Decision: Rejection
Notification date: 2/22
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Institution:Minnesota
Program: Econ
Decision: Waiting List
Notification date: 2/26
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: What a February...
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Notification date: 16 Feb,2010 Notified through: Email to check
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 2/18 Notified Through: Email to check site Comment: It hurts..
  • Institution: Duke,Yale Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/16,2/18(maybe) Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GF: No
  • Institution:Cornell Econ Decision: Rejection Notification date: 2/22 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No
Waitlists:
  • Institution:Minnesota Econ Decision: Waiting List Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: What a February...:doh:
  • Institution:Minnesota Econ Decision: Waiting List Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: What a February...

jito32 2010:
Institution: Boston College
Program: Economics, PhD
Decision: Admit
Funding: Tuition + 16k
Notification date: 2-27-2010
Notified through: Email
Posted on GF: No
Comments: w00t!
Accepts:
  • Institution: Virginia Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: No idea Notification date: 19 feb Notified Through: Checked online status after seeing other people had seen decisions Posted on Grad Cafe: no Comment: Frickin sweet, got rejected last year. Feels amazing.
  • Institution: Boston College Economics, PhD Decision: Admit Funding: Tuition + 16k Notification date: 2-27-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: w00t!
  • Institution: Boston College Economics, PhD Decision: Admit Funding: Tuition + 16k Notification date: 2-27-2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No Comments: w00t!
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
  • Institution: Rochester Econ Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/01/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: Hmm thought I had a good chance at this one.
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: Also expected
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: gah
  • Institution: Rochester Econ Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/01/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: No. Comment: Hmm thought I had a good chance at this one.
  • Institution: Northwestern University Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: No Comments: Also expected
  • Institution: Columbia University Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/04/2010 Notified through: Email to check website Comment: gah
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GF: no Comments:
Waitlists:

chuisle 2010:
Institution: Duke
Program: Economics PhD
Decision: Rejected
Notification date: 2/16
Notified through: Email to check site
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Hoping because I'm not a great fit
Institution: Vanderbilt
Program: Economics PhD
Decision:Rejected
Notification date: 2/19
Notified through: Email
Posted on grad cafe: No
Comments: Was disappointed to be rejected since I was considering this a "safety"
Waiting on: Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Brown, NYU, UPenn, Berkeley, Boston U, U of I - Urbana, UW Madison (Welcome ALL info on these!)
Accepts:
Rejects:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 2/16 Notified through: Email to check site Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Hoping because I'm not a great fit
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics PhD Decision:Rejected Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Was disappointed to be rejected since I was considering this a "safety" Waiting on: Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Brown, NYU, UPenn, Berkeley, Boston U, U of I - Urbana, UW Madison (Welcome ALL info on these!)
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comment: And then there were 8...actually, including implicit rejection and schools I now realize were beyond reaches...there were MAYBE 2.
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics PhD Decision:Rejected Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: Email Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Was disappointed to be rejected since I was considering this a "safety" Waiting on: Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Brown, NYU, UPenn, Berkeley, Boston U, U of I - Urbana, UW Madison (Welcome ALL info on these!)
  • Institution: Cornell Ph.D. Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on GF: Yes Comment: And then there were 8...actually, including implicit rejection and schools I now realize were beyond reaches...there were MAYBE 2.
Waitlists:

77rus 2010:
itution: UC Berkeley
Program: PhD Economics
Decision: Reject
Funding: N/A
Notification date: 03/02/2010
Notified through: E-mail
Posted on GF: No
Comments: expected
Accepts:
  • Institution: Emory Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: no Comments: woo hoo!!! finally some good news! my first acceptance...
  • Institution: Emory Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: no Comments: woo hoo!!! finally some good news! my first acceptance...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Cornell Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 02/10/2010 Notified through: email Posted on Gradcafe: No Comment:
  • Institution: Duke Econ Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/16/2010 Notified through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) no
  • Institution: Vanderbilt Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: Feb 19th Notified Through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: No Comments: oh well
  • Institutionitution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: expected
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics Decision: Rejected Notification date: 03/03/2010 Notified through: Website Posted on GF: no Comments: expected
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comment: oh well
  • Institution itution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Reject Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GF: No Comments: expected
  • Institution: University of Chicago Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/05/2010 Notified through: E-mail Comment: oh well
  • Institution stitution: CMU Tepper School of Business Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/9/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GF: no Comments: expected
Waitlists:


Waitlists:

El Greco 2010:
PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: top 50 large public university - to 10 business school. B.S. in finance and international business
Undergrad GPA: 3.76
Type of Grad: n/a
Grad GPA: n/a
GRE: 790/610/4.5 (q/v/awa)
Math Courses: Calc I-III (A+,A,current), Finite Math (B+), Intro to Stats (B+), DiffyQ 1 (current), Prob & Stats 1 (current),
Econ Courses: Intro Micro/Macro (A-,A), Inter Micro (A), Bus Econ (A-), Banking and Cap Mkts (A)
Other Courses: finance courses
Letters of Recommendation: Probably pretty good, one was my thesis advisor (UCLA PHD finance), cap mkts class (WVU PHD Econ), inter micro (PHD Cornell)
Research Experience: Just undergraduate thesis on credit derivatives
Teaching Experience: none
Research Interests: fin econ, behavioral econ/finance, monetary econ, macro
SOP: I think it was normal to good.
Other:
RESULTS: (masters)
Acceptances: Tufts ($), BU (no $)
Waitlists: Duke
Rejections: Duke (off waitlist), UToronto MFE
Pending: WashU MfinWhat would you have done differently? I was happy to get into Tufts w some $. I was a finance major with little math background and have been taking math/econ courses at a local university back home in florida. I don't know what I want to do (phd/private sector) but I am happy with Tufts. After getting into Tufts i rescinded and didn't complete other international apps because I'd rather be in the states, hopefully that doesnt end up being a bad decision but tufts is a good school with a good reputation and I am really excited to start there in the fall
Accepts:
    Acceptances: Tufts ($), BU (no $)
  • Institution: Tufts University MS Economics Decision: Accepted (unofficial) Funding: 65% tuition, 4.5k TA-ship for 1st semester + if im good enough Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: Yay!!! Wondering if i should even bother applying to other programs since most don't offer any funding
  • Institution: BU MA Economics Decision: Accepted Notification date: 04/01 Notified through: E-mail Funding: None Comments: Cool, but, w no funding, I will be choosing Tufts w/ $ over this..
Rejects:
    Rejections: Duke (off
  • Institution: U of Toronto Masters in Financial Economics Decision: Rejection Funding: N/A Notification date: 3/25/10 Notified through: letter Comments: Expected. Especially after the back and forth with the department over supplemental material. Really a pain in the a$$.
  • Institution: Duke University MA Economics Decision: Rejected off the waitlist Funding: NA Notification date: 4/12/10 Notified through: E-mail Comments: Oh well.
Waitlists:
    Waitlists: Duke
  • Institution: Duke MA Economics Decision: Waitlisted Funding: n/a Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: e-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: was disappointed but happy it wasn't an outright rejection

2010app9357 2010: Profile:
Type of Undergrad: BA in Econ, Politics top 15 US LAC
Undergrad GPA: 3.92 = probably top 2 or 3 % at my school
Type of Grad: None
GRE: 800Q, 740V, 6.0 AWA
Math Courses (undergrad-level): Real I, Real II, Linear, Calc 1-3, ODE, Probability Theory (calc based) ~ all A or better
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Intro and Inter Micro and Macro, Trade, M+B, Comparative Labor, Mathematical Econ (simon + blume), Game Theory (gibbons), IO, Honors Thesis, ~ all A or better. Econometrics B+
Letters of Recommendation:3 econ professors from LAC, all actively researching, popular probably only in select circles but they know me well and will probably say nice things
Research Experience: RA one year during undergrad, honors thesis (the department liked it & was impressed), currently RA at regional fed
Teaching Experience: volunteered as peer tutor for econ, stats, politics
Research Interests: micro theory, political theory
Statement of Purpose: Working on one.
Concerns: No graduate courses, average amounts of math, from LAC
Schools: mit, princeton, stanford, berkley, yale, NW, UCSD, U Mich, caltech,wisconsin, duke, MD, rochester, UVA, ohio, UC-Irvine
Accepts:
  • Institution: Georgetown University Economics PhD Decision: Admitted Funding: $$$ Notification date: Feb 19th Notified Through: E-mail Comments: YAY!!
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 20K Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: If only it weren't so cold :(
  • Institution: Georgetown Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18.5K Notification date: 1/19 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: YAY!!!
  • Institution: JHU Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: tuition waved Notification date: 3/01 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: No
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 2/27 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: No $ :(
  • Institution: Michigan Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: ??? Notification date: 3/01 Notified through: Website Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: Best Yet!
  • Institution: Rochester Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 20K Notification date: 2/25 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: If only it weren't so cold
  • Institution: Wisconsin Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: None Notification date: 2/27 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: No $
  • Institution: UCSD Economics Decision: Accepted Funding: TBD Notification date: 3/12/2010 Notified through:E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: decisions decisions...
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Econ PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 02/18/2010 Notified through: email to check website Posted on Gradcafe: (yes or no) yes Comments: well that was fun
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Oh well.
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: oh well
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Comments: oh well:(
  • Institution: Northwestern Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: No Comments: oh well
  • Institution: UC Berkeley Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 03/02/2010 Notified through: email Comments: oh well
  • Institution: Stanford Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 3/11/2010 Notified through: E-mail Posted on GC: No Comments: me too!!
  • Institution: CalTech Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Notification date: 3/19 Notified through: Email Posted on GC: No Comments: Finally!
  • Institution: Maryland Economics Decision: Reject Notification date: 03/20/10 Notified through: Email to check website Posted on GC: No
  • Institution: UVA Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 03/30/10 Notified through: I called them Comments: I mostly wanted to see if they lost my application or something. Very very late...
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: NA Notification date: 4/12/10 Notified through: E-mail
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Notification date: Feb 19th Notified Through: E-mail Comments: eh
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Still feels good.
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Still feels good.
  • Institution: MIT Economics Decision: Waitlisted Notification date: Mar 17 Notified through: email Funding: Another NSF hopeful...

TommyG28 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: BA Econ, top UK university
Undergrad GPA: 3.8/4 (equivalent)
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 800Q, 720V, 5.5AWA
Math Courses: Real Analysis I, II; ODE I, II; Multivariable calc I, II; Linear Algebra I, II; probability theory I,II; and Measure Theory. Mixture of A and B
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Many (border grad level, e.g. Mas-Colell, Varian, etc.) All As
Other Courses: None
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (2 from good US), likely to be a mix of ok to good.
Research Experience: Except for term papers and thesis, none.
Teaching Experience: None
Research Interests: Game theory, Labour, IO
statement of purpose: Standard format, tailored each application to Profs I'd like to work with
Concerns: Math marks only ok, and possibly not wide ranging enough; US Adcoms not being able to decipher UK transcripts (e.g. 80 0s top mark, 70+ 0s A equivalent)
Other: Glad I have seen this forum, but panicking slightly now. Hadn't realised it would be quite this competitive.
Applying to: MIT, UPenn, NYU, Harvard, Michigan, Duke, Georgetown, Wisconsin, Texas, Berkeley, etc.
Accepts:
  • Institution: Georgetown Econ PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 18.5k for 5 years Notification date: 19 Feb Notified Through: Email Posted on Gradcafe: No Comments: Pretty chuffed. Nice to have one in the bag.
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Funding: - Notification date: 18 feb Notified Through: Email to check online status Posted on Grad Cafe: no Comment: Seems a part of me has died inside; that part which creates dreams. On a brighter note, still 11 more potential acceptances to come in. 12 would have been awkward to manage.
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Notification date: Feb 19th Notified Through: E-mail with link to site Comments: Lack of strictly positive news is starting to be detrimental to my health

lovecon 2010: PROFILE:
Type of Undergrad: B.A-Econ Math double major at large public univ. (top 15ish econ,math dep.)
Undergrad GPA: Math 3.98/4.0; Econ 3.86/4.0 Overall: 3.94/4.0
Type of Grad: NA
Grad GPA: NA
GRE: 660V 800Q 4.5AWA
Math Courses (undergrad-level): Cal 1-3, Discrete, Math Stat 1-2, ODE, Linear Algebra, Prob Theory, Advanced Cal 1-2, Elem. Top, Stochastic Processes
Econ Courses (undergrad-level): lots and lots... loved' em..
Econ Courses (PhD-level): Micro Theory(A)
Other Courses: NA
Letters of Recommendation: 3 econ professors (2 NWU PhD, 1 UMN PhD); 1 from ph.d micro course instructor(well known labor econ prof.), 1 from research supervisor(known in relative field), 1 from undergrad course instructor(not sure)
Research Experience: Independent Research on unemployment(empirical)
Teaching Experience: NA
Research Interests: labor(unemployment, job search, etc..)
statement of purpose: typical format(?)- why decided to go to grad school, challenges, experiences, etc..pretty much focused on research interests. just 1 page.
Concerns: No master's degree & International Student >> Funding.....?
Other: just thankful to my family for their support and trust along the whole process(I am a late starter), wish I could give them all a big happy smile. Also, best wishes to all econ-committed people out there.
Applying to: UCLA, BERKELEY, DUKE, MIT, YALE, COLUMBIA, UPENN, UM-AA, UW-M, UMN, NYU, CHICAGO, HARVARD, PRINCETON, NWU, BU, STANFORD, UCSD, CMU, PSU (now, that's a lot..)
Accepts:
  • Institution: Carnegie Mellon Univ. Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 30K Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Northwestern Univ. Economics PhD Decision: Accepted Funding: 1st yr funding wait listed Notification date: 2/24 Notified through: E-mail to check site Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments: Wow.. virtually my dream school
Rejects:
  • Institution: Yale Economics Decision: Rejected Notification Date: 2/18 Notified Through: Checked Online Status Posted on Grad Cafe: No Comment: congrats to those admitted!:tup:
  • Institution: Yale Economics PhD Decision: Rejected Funding: N/A Notification date: 2/18 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
Waitlists:
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Waitlisted Funding: Notification date: Feb 19th Notified Through: E-mail Comments: no acceptances..yet
  • Institution: Duke Economics PhD Decision: Wait listed Funding: Notification date: 2/19 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Univ. of Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Wait listed Funding: Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
  • Institution: Univ. of Minnesota Economics PhD Decision: Wait listed Funding: Notification date: 2/26 Notified through: E-mail Posted on grad cafe: Yes Comments:
Admit summary statistics:
As submitted and recoreded from Test Magic:
There were 13 accepted out of 55 applicants.Of those accepted, average GPA was 3.81, average GREQ was 787.1.
From the Department webpage in 2010 (please send me a link if this is wrong!)
Each year more than 500 people apply to the Ph.D. program in Economics. Of those applicants approximately 60 are offered admission, with approximately 90 percent of them receiving an offer of five years of financial aid. The aid typically covers tuition and fee waivers and a combination of fellowships and teaching, graduate, and research assistantships which adequately cover the costs of living for the student, including rent, utilities, food, etc. We do not discriminate against any applicant based on country of origin or previous educational experience in deciding which students receive financial aid. Of the students offered admission to the Ph.D. program, about 35 percent decide to come to Duke, and we matriculate an average 20 students each year. Approximately 70 percent of the students in our program are from outside of the United States; we pride ourselves on our broad spectrum of academic talent from all over the world...Each year more than 500 people apply to the Ph.D. program in Economics. Of those applicants approximately 60 are offered admission, with approximately 90 percent of them receiving an offer of five years of financial aid. The aid typically covers tuition and fee waivers and a combination of fellowships and teaching, graduate, and research assistantships which adequately cover the costs of living for the student, including rent, utilities, food, etc. We do not discriminate against any applicant based on country of origin or previous educational experience in deciding which students receive financial aid. Of the students offered admission to the Ph.D. program, about 35 percent decide to come to Duke, and we matriculate an average 20 students each year. Approximately 70 percent of the students in our program are from outside of the United States; we pride ourselves on our broad spectrum of academic talent from all over the world.
(Source)

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Last Updated: 14:57:55, Fri May 11, 2012